Researchers discover side effects of using gene scissors
Published: Wednesday, Dec 4th 2024, 12:10
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Researchers at ETH Zurich have identified side effects from the use of compact gene scissors. They cannot say anything about the severity of the damage. They are now looking for a solution.
The gene scissors Crispr-Cas can be used to modify genetic material so precisely that gene therapies can be used to combat hereditary diseases and cancer. This was announced by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich on Wednesday. Research has now shown that the use of a certain molecule can cause side effects.
The application of gene scissors involves two different approaches: a fast, imprecise one and a slow, precise one. In the latter, the AZD7648 molecule has recently been used to repair various disease genes very precisely.
The severity of the damage is unknown
According to the press release, the molecule had the desired effect and the precise gene editing worked, but the researchers discovered serious genetic changes when they analyzed the genome on a larger scale. The researchers are unable to say how serious the damage is to the entire genome.
The researchers are now trying to find out how the molecule can be used without damaging the genome. It is possible that a cocktail of different molecules could eradicate the side effects.
Two researchers, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, were awarded a Nobel Prize in 2020 for their discovery of Crispr-Cas technology. The tools can be programmed to find a specific location in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and precisely modify the genetic information.
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