Scientists edit genes inside human body for the first time – Things to know

New Delhi: For the first time, researchers from the United States infused a person’s blood with gene editing tools, with the aim to treat his metabolic disorder.

The 44-year-old patient has a rare metabolic disorder called Hunter syndrome.

Here are some important things to know

What is Gene editing

Gene editing (or genome editing) is the insertion, deletion or replacement of DNA at a specific site in the genome of an organism or cell.

It is usually achieved in the lab using engineered nucleases also known as molecular scissors.

How does it work

Gene editing techniques make use of certain proteins that can cut DNA in a targeted location.

Although this family of proteins was discovered in the 1960s, it is only since around 2005 that the ability of some of them to make precisely targeted cuts at almost any position in the genome has been recognised and utilised by scientists.

Among the recent genome editing technologies, CRISPR-based methods are particularly promising owing to their relative efficiency, low cost; and ease of use.

What is it used for

Given that genome editing has the potential to alter any DNA sequence, whether in a bacterium, plant, animal or human being, it has an almost limitless range of possible applications in living things.

Areas of research and possible applications include:

Crops and livestock

Industrial biotechnology

Biomedicine

Reproduction