CRISPR

Imagine, curing a fatal disease before birth. In an article form Science Daily a research shows that the gene editing tool CRISPR is helping make this possible. Using an animal model, a team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has managed to out play a lethal lung disease which causes death hours after birth. The team is hoping to solve congenital diseases like cystic fibrosis. Using precisely timed in utero delivery of the CRISPR reagents into the amniotic fluid during the fetal development they were able to target changes in the lungs of mice. They introduced the gene editors four days before birth, which would be the third trimester for humans. In a second experiment they were able to reduce the severity of a lung disease known as surfactant protein C deficiency or SFTPC, which has a common disease causing mutation in the human SFTPC gene. 100% of the untreated mice died of respiratory failure within hours of birth. However, the treated mice showed a 22% survival rate. When I think of genetics the progress we’ve made is barely scratching the surface of the possibilities that lie ahead. Imagine a world where we don’t have to fear for the health of our unborn children. Through genetics, a disease free world doesn’t seem like such a far fetched idea.

Genetic Scouting: Finding the Future Athletes with Simple Gene Testing

As the sports industry becomes increasingly more lucrative and the athlete pool becomes more competitive, teams at the highest levels are always looking fro new ways to scout talent. According to Joe Leccessi, a recruiting coach from Next College Student Athlete (a large recruiting network), some college and professional teams have already started building databases of their players' genes to compare for future comparison to prospective players. With a simple saliva sample, they can tell the potential endurance, strength, and injury potentials of the players they are interested in. The biggest gene indicator of success in sports is the expression of ACTN3, an actin-binding molecule in skeletal muscle. High expression of this protein correlates to contraction power and speed in muscles, a trait that gives athletes an extreme advantage over others that do not have as much expression of ACTN3. According to Atlas Sports Genetics president, Kevin Reilly, the ACTN3 genetics test is a better indicator of athletic performance than a physical test to determine a child's athletic ability before they turn 9. This is about the age where large European soccer clubs start recruiting children to their youth systems, and these clubs are certainly looking into genetic testing for accuracy in scouting for such a long term investment.

Before getting too caught up in genetically testing young children to find the next Lionel Messi or LeBron James, scientists are saying we do not know enough about the human genome yet to accurately and reliably assess potential athletic ability. Out of the approximate 20,000 genes in the human genome, only 200 so far have been associated with positive athletic performance. Almost all researchers, however, agree that genetics have a large impact on athletic performance, but to what extent, it is simply not known yet.

Gene test that could help predict DCIS outcomes

According to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, a new gene test could help predict the severity of a type of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ, also known DCIS. The gene test consists of looking at 12 genes of the woman's tumor. From the test, professionals could tell how severe the cancer is. It could predict if the cancer will need need surgery and radiation or just surgery. This could spare the patient from getting unnecessary radiation. Even though some experts say that that radiation is somewhat safe, sometimes it could put people's heart and lung tissue at risk. This test is also help people save thousands of dollars. Even though the test will cost around $4,175, it is cheaper than getting radiation therapy, which will cost around $20,000. More than 45,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with this type of cancer, but it could save some women from receiving radiation.

I think that this test will be very benefial to women that are diagnosed with DCIS. It could save people thousands of dollars by not receiving unnecessary radiation. Even though radiation is somewhat safe, avoiding radiation treatment is better for the body.