Cure for sure

Can Genetic disorders be cured prenatally?

In the recent research, scientists have proven that genes of Human embryo can be edited to remove the specific genes that are responsible for diseases like thalassemia, parkinson's and many more.

For the first time in history, a team of researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou,  have successfully edited the genes of human embryo.

Researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 technique to knock a gene called HBB, which is responsible for fatal blood disorder β-thalassaemia, out of donor embryos.

The CRISPR/Cas9 method utilizes a complex enzyme i.e; a set of “genetic scissors” to snip out and replace faulty gene segments with functional bits of DNA.

According to the studies done by the scientists , out of 86 total embryos utilized in the study , only a small fraction actually survived the experiment, however in real life it ought to be 100% accurate and successful. Hence the researchers have recently called off the study, and hope to start it soon with more developed methods and techniques.

The researchers published their findings in recent issue of the journal Protein & Cell.