Topic: Gene Editing Technology-Eradicate Diseasea including Lyme
me
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 45475
posted
New Gene Editing Technology Can Eliminate Whole Species — Should We Use It?
by PAUL RATNER June 11, 2016 worker fighting pika virus
While ethical considerations have always troubled thoughtful scientists, the fact of the matter is that if something can be done, somebody usually does it.
While a few had clear concerns about creating an Atomic bomb in the first place, there were more than enough scientists who put their minds to work on creating one.
A similar conundrum is taking place now with the technological breakthroughs that allow us to manipulate genetic code.
A technique known as “gene drive” enables scientists to insert genetic code into a species that would be passed onto to its offspring.
One potential outcome of this ability is to be able to eliminate unwanted species that carry disease.
You could possibly eliminate malaria, dengue fever, Lyme disease. Or stop the much-publicized Zika Virus by getting rid of virus-carrying mosquitoes.
In fact, maybe we should get rid of mosquitoes in general. Not many humans will stand up for the necessity to keep these pesky blood-suckers around . . .
(Picture)
Potential applications of RNA-guided gene drives. Clockwise from left. Taken from a paper on gene drives by a group of Harvard scientists.
A report published this week by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine both validated this technology and cautioned that it's a power not to be taken lightly. Who knows what releasing genetically altered organisms into the wild would lead to?
“There is insufficient evidence available at this time to support the release of gene-drive modified organisms into the environment,” states the paper.
On the other hand, the report did not call for a ban on this technology and, ultimately, underscored the fact that sooner or later these organisms will find their way out into ecological systems, whether by plan, subterfuge or simple mistake. if it can, it will happen.
“Gene drive” is spread through sexual reproduction and will spread as long as the members of the affected species keep reproducing. It’s also possible that if there’s any inter-species mating that occurs, a new species will get changed. And so on and so forth . . .
(breaking up the post for easier reading for many here)
[ 06-14-2016, 02:52 PM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]
Posts: 1431 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2015
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Jordana
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Member # 45305
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I don't know. I've been on this earth a long time now. When I was a kid they were going to cure MS and Cancer and they still write about this possibility in the very near future! all the time.
I've got no faith at all in modern medicine. In fact the medicines we're all using to combat Lyme are at least 50 years old or more.
Posts: 2057 | From Florida | Registered: Feb 2015
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