Paging Dr Bashir - your time is nigh

[Asbo Zaprudder]

With all the recent news about the promise of CRISPR-cas9 enzyme for editing the genomes not only of human embryos but of adults as well to potentially cure cancer and repair inherited defects, how long will it be before designer babies such as Julian with all the gifts are a reality?

Of course, the technique might also be used to selectively target certain people or even for genocide (think Founders for a DS9 example).

The current usage of the technique targets all occurences of a DNA sequence and can lead to unwanted mutations although test animals seem to have coped ok. Early days but presumably the techniques for targetting the correct occurrence of a DNA sequence will improve over time.

 

[publiusr]

The ease of this tech scares me more than atomic power ever did.
First world project--the fist of God--destroys all--no selectivity.

Now a Hitler figure doesn't need a huge war machine--railways, boxcars, huge factories of death.

No.

Now--he's like Davros with that supposed vial between thumb and forefinger.

Here's an idea.
All gene manip must be done off world--also a good way to force big pharma into supporting spaceflight.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

^I don't know how easy it is to deliver CRISPR into cells. I suspect it has to be in the blood in sufficient quantity. Using mosquitos might be one way except the quantity would be minute. I doubt Daesh/ISIS have any competent biochemists with the required lab facilities but North Korea might.