CRISPR (Gene Editing System)

2023

Developed CRISPR therapy that blocks the development of all cancers

On July 6, 2023, American researchers from Yale University reported on the development of a new technology for combating malignancies through gene editing (CRISPR).

Healthy human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes, but most cancer cells are known to contain additional chromosomes. This condition is known as aneuploidy, but its exact role in the development of neoplasms remained a mystery: it is not clear whether it was the root cause of cancer or its symptom. The work of scientists from Yale University sheds light on this problem.

American researchers from Yale University reported on the development of a new technology to combat malignant formations through gene editing

The researchers used the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) genetic engineering method to develop a new approach to removing chromosomes from cancer cells. This is said to be a significant technical advance. Being able to manipulate aneuploid chromosomes will lead to a better understanding of how they function. It has been found that the removal of additional chromosomes leads to the fact that cells lose the ability to form malignant tumors.

Almost all cancers are aneuploid, so if there is some way to selectively target these aneuploid cells, theoretically this could be a good way to target cancer. Moreover, this has a minimal effect on healthy non-cancer tissue, "said Jason Sheltzer, senior author of the study.

During the project, scientists determined why aneuploidy can contribute to the progression of malignancies. It turned out that certain genes that stimulate cancer growth are encoded on three chromosomes instead of the usual two.^[1]

A new gene therapy has been developed that completely removes HIV from the body

On May 1, 2023, Temple University in Philadelphia announced the development of a new gene therapy that allows not only the complete removal of HIV from the body, but also makes healthy immune cells resistant to the virus. Read more here.

2018: Gates maintains CRISPR gene modification system

In April 2018, Microsoft founder Bill Gates again expressed support for the CRISPR gene modification tool. The billionaire believes that people can use such developments to combat diseases, increase livestock and increase yields, as well as to confront insects that spread malaria.

Gates has long supported gene modification projects, BusinessInsider reported. He was one of the first to invest in the creation of Editas Medicine - a company to use CRISPR to prevent disease. Researchers at the Gates Foundation have been studying advances in genetic engineering for nearly a decade to increase yields and kill insects that carry dangerous diseases such as malaria.

Bill Gates

One of the areas of application of the new development is agriculture. Researchers are exploring a way to change the genes of some cattle species, such as tropical cows, to give milk like regular cows, Bill Gates said. More on this is written here. In addition, scientists want to increase the endurance of dairy cattle in a warmer climate, which is relevant in global warming.

Being able to easily change the structure of a DNA molecule is a powerful tool that can change the world for the better by being careful. According to Gates, "missing this chance would be unforgivable."^[2]

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