CRISPR Gene Editing in Patients with a Congenital Vision Disease

 

Several years ago, scientists learned how to splice the human genome, however, it is still questionable about whether this is an ethical issue when dealing with humans genes. Editas Medicine and Allergan recently disclosed that they would be beginning to perform a type of gene editing in patients with a congenital vision disorder, however, unlike normal human genome splicing, the effects of their editing would not be passed down to the next generation. They will be using CRISPR in the eye of their patients where it will fix a single gene mutation in the CEP290 gene. The mutation of the CEP290 gene prevents photoreceptors from sensing light, which ultimately causes low vision or blindness. Although some may disagree, I believe that this trial of gene editing in humans is ethical, as CRISPR is only capable of editing the specific CEP290 gene. This genetic disorder is currently untreatable, and the use of CRISPR to cut and remove the malfunctioning CEP290 gene could help increase the vision of those with this congenital vision disease. 

https://time.com/4379503/crispr-scientists-edit-dna/?iid=toc_062316

https://www.newscientist.com/term/what-is-crispr/

https://www.umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2020/06/gene-therapy-and-crispr-strategies-for-curing-blindness/#:~:text=A%20new%20CEP290%20gene%20therapy%20strategy&text=This%20approach%20involves%20using%20shorter,a%20significantly%20reduced%20recovery%20period.