Author: Harry Glorikian
Date Published: January 2, 2015
Summary:
First, the article talks about gene editing, where scientists use site-specific endonucleases to identify a double-stranded break in the genome of an organism, and fix that gene by disrupting it or rewriting its sequence. The author then cites four ways of gene editing using meganucleases, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases , and clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats. According to the article, Sangamo Biosciences is the only company to utilize the ZFNs technology at clinical trials for human therapeutics.
First, the article talks about gene editing, where scientists use site-specific endonucleases to identify a double-stranded break in the genome of an organism, and fix that gene by disrupting it or rewriting its sequence. The author then cites four ways of gene editing using meganucleases, zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases , and clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats. According to the article, Sangamo Biosciences is the only company to utilize the ZFNs technology at clinical trials for human therapeutics.
Secondly, gene editing has agricultural applications. Glorikian mentions that the human population is expected to rise by 2 billion people by 2050, and that it will be accompanied by rising food prices, famines caused by natural and political events, and by the overdevelopment of crop-suited land. Nevertheless, gene edited crops, can help with this anticipated disaster in that the crops can be edited to have higher yields, withstand droughts, and have more essential nutrients. In addition, genetically edited genes are more socially acceptable than genetically modified organisms because scientists edit the original/native genes of an organism while modifying an organism involves taking foreign genes, a process that has not been widely appealed to.
Connection:
This article primarily connects to our unit on molecular genetics. Relating to molecular genetics, the article describes how gene editing involves biological structures that make up genes, such as DNA, and edits them by disrupting or rewriting sequences that are “written” in nitrogenous bases. Additionally, this article relates to our debate on GMOs. Harry Glorikian brings up the level of social acceptance of GMOs, and how they’re not well supported, stating how they’re “politically controversial”, because of the addition of foreign genes.
This article primarily connects to our unit on molecular genetics. Relating to molecular genetics, the article describes how gene editing involves biological structures that make up genes, such as DNA, and edits them by disrupting or rewriting sequences that are “written” in nitrogenous bases. Additionally, this article relates to our debate on GMOs. Harry Glorikian brings up the level of social acceptance of GMOs, and how they’re not well supported, stating how they’re “politically controversial”, because of the addition of foreign genes.
Lastly, this article briefly states a concept related to our study of evolution. The article states that the human population will grow from 7 million to 9 million people, and that the world currently doesn’t have the necessary resources to support that many people. The author is linking to an idea brought up by Thomas Robert Malthus in that a production of more individuals than the environment can support leads to struggle for existence.
There are negative effects to GMOs, but are there any identified negative effects to GEOs?
ReplyDeleteYes, there are some negative aspects of GEOs. For example, if a genetic mutation occurs within a cell that is similar to the edited gene at the target site, then it would be difficult to identify that mutation, which could prove harmful if the mutation is harmful.
DeleteThe link I used was this: http://mouseclique.jax.org/revolutions-in-genetic-engineering-pros-and-cons-of-znfstalens-and-crisprcas/
Shouldn't gene edited things also be considered a GMO because the true sense of the word "genetically modified" is altering the genome in any way using genetic engineering? Because of the fact that it is still-GMO would it still be a no-no?
ReplyDeleteIt really depends on one's definition. The World Health Organization defines GMOs as essentially just having unnaturally altered DNA, while Dr. Jeffrey Heit from the U.S. National Library of Medicine says that GMOs have had foreign genes inserted into their genetic code. So, with the first definition, GEOs would still be considered bad by lots of people when looking at the concern over GMOs, but with the second definition, GEOs probably wouldn't face this backlash.
DeleteThe links I used were: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-technology/faq-genetically-modified-food/en/ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002432.htm