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Ch. 17 - Recombinant DNA Technology
Klug - Essentials of Genetics 10th Edition
Klug10th EditionEssentials of GeneticsISBN: 9780135588789Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksKlug 10th EditionCh. 17 - Recombinant DNA TechnologyProblem 25
Chapter 17, Problem 25

What safety considerations must be taken before CRISPR-Cas is used to edit human embryos to cure disease?

Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that CRISPR-Cas9 is a powerful gene-editing tool that can make precise changes to DNA, but editing human embryos raises significant ethical and safety concerns that must be carefully evaluated before use.
Identify potential off-target effects, where CRISPR might cut DNA at unintended sites, which could cause harmful mutations or disrupt important genes; therefore, thorough testing to minimize and detect off-target edits is essential.
Consider mosaicism, a condition where not all cells in the embryo carry the intended edit, leading to unpredictable outcomes; strategies to ensure uniform editing across all cells must be developed and validated.
Evaluate long-term effects and heritability, since changes in embryos can be passed to future generations; comprehensive studies are needed to understand the implications for the individual and their descendants.
Address ethical and regulatory issues, including informed consent, potential social consequences, and adherence to guidelines set by scientific and governmental bodies to ensure responsible use of CRISPR in human embryos.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Off-target Effects

Off-target effects occur when CRISPR-Cas edits unintended regions of the genome, potentially causing harmful mutations. Ensuring high specificity is crucial to avoid damaging essential genes or triggering cancerous changes, making thorough screening and validation necessary before clinical use.
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Ethical and Regulatory Considerations

Editing human embryos raises ethical questions about consent, long-term impacts, and potential misuse. Regulatory frameworks must address these concerns, balancing scientific progress with societal values and ensuring that gene editing is performed responsibly and transparently.
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Mosaicism and Genetic Stability

Mosaicism refers to the presence of edited and unedited cells within the same embryo, which can lead to unpredictable outcomes. Ensuring genetic stability and uniform editing across all cells is essential to achieve effective and safe therapeutic results.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The CRISPR-Cas system has great potential but also raises many ethical issues about its potential applications because, theoretically, it can be used to edit any gene in the genome. What do you think are some of the concerns about the use of CRISPR-Cas on humans? Should CRISPR-Cas applications be limited for use on only certain human genes but not others? Explain your answers.

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