What is the genetic editing technology "CRISPR" and what is the future of humanity and humanity?

With the progress of research on genes containing the "design map" of life, human beings can now freely operate their design drawings. What kind of way will the society of mankind in the future obtain by so-called "god's hand" that can manipulate life as it is, a movie that makes me think about such a thing "Genetic Engineering Will Change Everything Forever - CRISPR(Genetic engineering changes everything forever - CRISPR) "has been released.

Genetic Engineering Will Change Everything Forever - CRISPR - YouTube


This movie explains many topics of the world in moviesKurzgesagt - In a NutshellIt is what made it. On the site named "Kurzgesagt (in English in In Nutshell)" meaning "very simply" in German, many commentary movies have been created, and this movie is one of them.

What if you were told that in the 1980's, "computers will be used for everything"?


People all over the world are connected by something like "spider web (Web) ..."


What kind of equipment can fit in the palm, if performance similar to that of a supercomputer is installed?


It is an idea that it seemed like a crazy story in the 1980s, but these are all realities. A world like science fiction novel came and people caught that in the course and came not to worry a bit.


And now, we are about to enter a similar era in the field of genetic engineering.


Here, let's talk about the past history, what is going on right now, and how the world has changed with breakthrough that occurred in recent years and what will become "common sense" in the future.


In the movie that begins with ......, the relationship between human beings and genes is divided into three categories: "1. genetic modification", "2. the oldest war on the earth" "3. the disease is gone?" "4. Designer baby" "5. critical From the point of view "" 6. Conclusion "is divided into six chapters.

"1. Genetic modification"


For thousands of years, human beings have engineered genes. It may also be one of the "genetic engineering" that has sorted out better species and strengthened its features.


However, it was when the mechanism of "DNA" was understood when the mechanism was truly understood.


DNA consists of four basic units, which preserve life information and give "instructions" for growth and survival.


In the 1960 's, attempts were made to mutate genes by exposing plants to radioactivity, and to make superior seeds.


In the 1970s, research was conducted on whether a part of genes could be recombined and applied to medicine and agriculture.


In 1974, genetically modified mice were born and it was used for the development of medicine.


And in the 1980's, the first patent was acquired in the process of "microorganisms eating petroleum".


Many chemical substances are now made from genetically modified organisms.


In 1994, the first genetically modified food in the world, "Flavr Savr Tomato" (tomato with a fresh flavor lasting) was released.


The tomato had genes to suppress corruption.


In the 1990s, application to humans will begin.


Treatment using genes was carried out as part of infertility treatment, and 1 child was born from 3 genes.


It is the birth of the world's first "human with three genetic parents".


In addition, muscular pigs, fast-growing salmon, chickens without feathers, transparent frogs, etc. are born by genetic modification.


Previously, genetic engineering technology was very expensive.


However, its disadvantages also include genome editing technology applying the repetitive clusters contained in DNA called "CRISPR (Crisper)"CRISPR / Cas 9"Has greatly improved by the appearance of.


With the advent of CRISPR / Cas 9, the cost required for genome editing has been reduced by 99% and the necessary time has also been shortened from one year to several weeks. This was a revolutionary event that genomic editing has become a level that can be done in laboratories around the world.


Even so, there are many cases where the terribleness does not come with pins. However, there is even a possibility that this technology forever changes the way people are.


"2. The oldest war on the earth"


Long before humanity was born, bacteria (bacteria) and viruses have fought a fierce battle.


Virus infecting bacteria "Bacteriophage"Has the character of hijacking cells by injecting their own genes into bacteria.


In contrast, bacteria have a certain defense mechanism, but in many cases they can not resist and die. Among them, there are things that survive because they have "anti-virus system".


Bacteria with antiviral systems store the DNA of the virus in its own CRISPR and keep it safe until the next time it is needed. This is "DNA storage".


Then when it is attacked by a virus, it copies the virus RNA from the DNA repository and hands it to the "secret weapon" of a protein called "Cas 9".


Among Cas 9, we compare the stored DNA with the DNA of the invading virus and judge whether it is dangerous or not. And if the sequences match 100% ... ...


I cut DNA of that virus and deprive attacking ability.


The superiority of Cas 9 is that its work is extremely accurate. And discovery by scientists that this mechanism can be applied to genetic engineering technology has led to great progress.


By using the function of Cas9, it is possible to accurately replace the DNA of the target cell by simply giving the DNA to be transplanted to the cell.


If the technology until then is a "map" written on paper ... ...


CRISPR / Cas 9 is so accurate technology that it can be called a "GPS system" using satellites.


This makes it possible to study cells by manipulating cells on any cell regardless of bacteria, plants, animals, or humans.


CRISPR / Cas9 was also a very revolutionary technology, but with this it is the so-called "first generation" technology. Even so, technological improvements have progressed, and more accurate tools are being developed.


"3. Does the disease go away?"


In 2015, trying to remove HIV virus using CRISPR turned out to work well.


Next, when experiments were carried out using mice infected with HIV in whole cells, it was said that 50% or more of the virus was removed successfully by injecting CRISPR.


If you use it, of course, HIV ... ...


It seems that it will be possible to eradicate viruses such as herpes lurking inside the human body.


In addition, CRISPR is expected to be effective for human enemy 's biggest enemy "cancer".


Cancer is a thing that cell itself refuses "to die" and is latent in the body, but strengthening immune cells facilitates the discovery of cancer cells.


If this technology is established, future cancer treatment may even be to reinforce your own cells and return it to the body. We already have research on this therapy in the US and China.


Currently, it is said that there are 3000 kinds of diseases caused by genetic defects, but by "treating" only the defective part, the disease itself may even disappear from the world.


However, it is also a fact that various problems remain in actual operation. This point seems to be a future research subject.


Besides this, CRISPR / Cas 9 is also used. There is a topic that raises controversy in various aspects, the birth of "genetically modified human beings".


"4. Designer Baby"


Techniques for editing human embryos already exist, and in 2015 and 2016, initial experiments were conducted in China and became a major debate over the world. It is also clear that there are still many problems at this stage, but research on this technology is considered to advance as a result of controversial pros and cons.


As it was not thought that computers would popularize so far in the 1970s, genetic editing techniques are not unlikely to become common in the near future. However, since ethical problems can not be avoided here, it is quite interesting to see what kind of situation changes will occur.


Genes of human beings born by genetic modification ... ...


It will be handed over to generations, and there is a possibility that it will occupy much of society.


In its early stages, treatment by genome editing may be used to treat hereditary diseases.


However, when the times change and people's consciousness changes, it is not necessarily the time when the idea that "reorganizing genes is considered unethical" will not come.


Perhaps it may be that there is an ethical problem that "not to remove the suffering of children" is more problematic than "to add to the genes that are" areas of God ".


Once the door is opened, we can not go back.


"How do you prevent Alzheimer's, do not prevent metabolic syndrome?"


If "perfect sight" "high stature" "muscular body" "hair of Fusafusa forever" "high intelligence" is possible, what kind of judgment do people make?


This change will occur one after another so that an era may emerge where ethical issues that are currently considered to be difficult are accepted as a matter of course.


In addition, there is a possibility that the problem of "old" that all people can not avoid is solved.


Of the people who die in the world, two-thirds have passed away due to aging. This is caused by damage of cells accumulated by aging, weakening of the cell's correcting power.


Since this is closely related to the function of genes, when the gene therapy technology develops, it may be the day that people will lose "old age".


In the world, as all the internal organs are renewed along with molting, "Lobster called lobster of immortality and immortality"BeniculaceThere are living creatures such as. There are also scientists who believe that by borrowing genes from these organisms, it will become possible to give the power of immortality to humans as well.


Regarding this issue, there are still many issues to be addressed from now on, but there is a view that it can not be realized.


By having the human body have a better immune system, it may be possible to overcome many diseases now.


Furthermore, there may be days when human beings who can leave the earth and live in space, and human beings who can live in the water or in the sky are realized.


"5. From a Critical Viewpoint"


However, there are still many technological and ethical issues remaining in this technology.


Many people are worried about the "new world" where genes are defective and people who are considered incomplete are eliminated.


However, the trend has already been adopted by the world.


By diagnosing "Down Syndrome" caused by a defect in the gene during pregnancy, there is the fact that 92% of pregnant women in Europe are giving up babies.


Because abortion is extremely personal, we can not question its right and wrong, but it is important to recognize that this is the fact that it is to do "pre-screening" under medical conditions.


If this trend advances and the number of human choices increases, the idea of ​​treating respect more carefully will be more important.


However, it may take more time to reach that stage. Although CRISPR is a powerful tool, it is not yet clear what the effect of genetic recombination will have on its fullness.


What we know now is actually "a part of the iceberg" and it may be just a small part of the actual.


There is also the possibility that this technology will be "misused".


What would happen if there were countries that intentionally "misuse" genomic edits at national level?


If one leader forces genetic modification on the people, what will happen?


Even if the world like science fiction novels that the powerful "Super Soldier" which genetically modified, protects the nation and leaders, even if it arrives in the near future, it has reached a level which is never strange.


However, there is also a view that it is wrong to say that banning such technology is wrong.


Even technologies involving danger are one of the scientific points of view that it will be safe, healthy and highly transparent by conducting research.


"6. Conclusion"


If these technologies are put into practical use, will some of us come to society where our existence is not allowed?


The technology itself includes fear, but there may be things that are available from there.


Perhaps genetic engineering is one of the new "evolution" of human beings.


If you have an infinite lifespan, you jump out of the earth and jump out into the new world, it may be called a "evolution".


The only fact that I can say is that the future will come definitely. And there may be a new "common sense" that was unexpected in the present society.


I do not know what kind of society it will be, but there are possibilities that 'reality' will come with many possibilities and challenges by technology.


It was a movie with many questions, which is often thought very much. The whole movie is a long movie of 16 minutes, but because Japanese subtitles are attached on YouTube, it may be good to check with your own eyes.