Gene-environment interactions play a key role in how psychiatric disorders manifest and develop. Psychiatric genetics researchers are making progress in identifying genomic correlates of many disorders. Recently, the field of genetics has given rise to a technology that many claim will transform the biological sciences and push the field into a transformative phase by introducing the powerful gene-editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9. “CRISPR triggered a revolution as it stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and works like a pair of molecular scissors” (Barrangou & Doudna, 2016). Scientists can direct CRISPR to a specific spot along an individual’s DNA and have the molecular scissors make cuts in the gene sequence. Therapeutically relevant changes can then be inserted.
Ever since the elegant discovery of the double helix, scientists have looked for ways to manipulate and design DNA. As a consequence, gene-editing tools have actually been around for some time. Yet it was not until the start of this inexpensive, simple, and remarkably effective genome-engineering method that biology was driven into a transformative phase.
As of today, “CRISPR-Cas9 systems have been successfully used to induce genetic modifications in a number of different species including rats, mice, pigs, nonhuman primates, and human cell lines” (Shrock & Güell, 2017). Furthermore, beyond CRISPR’s successful modification of genes, experiments have recently confirmed that CRISPR-Cas9 technology can actually be used in the treatment of inherited diseases. The CRISPR-induced modifications now have a targeted purpose and are used to achieve desired results. “For example, CRISPR has successfully reintroduced normally functioning genes into the genome of a live animal, leading to the improvement of muscle function” (Shrock & Güell, 2017). Similarly, CRISPR has been used to enhance liver function and induce changes in cholesterol metabolism in mice. “CRISPR has also successfully corrected genetic mutations and achieved functional restoration in animal models of simple genetic conditions” (Shrock & Güell, 2017).
In humans, a recently proposed clinical trial is looking to test the efficacy of a CRISPR-Cas9 system in cancer patients. The researchers will edit the immune cells of the participants. “Scientists in China have successfully edited genes in human embryos, replacing a thalassemia-causing gene with its corrected form and achieving desired results” (Wang & Qi, 2016). Furthermore, United States-based companies have launched clinical trials for the application of CRISPR-Cas9 technologies to treat the β-thalassemia blood disorder. “Together, these applications suggest CRISPR might be used successfully to correct human diseases arising from single-gene mutations, where the target is clear and the underlying foundations of a disease are well understood” (Wang & Qi, 2016).
References
Barrangou, R., & Doudna, J. A. (2016). Applications of CRISPR technologies in research and beyond.
Nature biotechnology, 34(9), 933-941.
Shrock, E., & Güell, M. (2017). CRISPR in animals and animal models. Progress in molecular biology and
Translational science, 152, 95-114.
Wang, F., & Qi, L. S. (2016). Applications of CRISPR genome engineering in cell biology. Trends in cell
Biology, 26(11), 875-888.
Ever since the elegant discovery of the double helix, scientists have looked for ways to manipulate and design DNA. As a consequence, gene-editing tools have actually been around for some time. Yet it was not until the start of this inexpensive, simple, and remarkably effective genome-engineering method that biology was driven into a transformative phase.
As of today, “CRISPR-Cas9 systems have been successfully used to induce genetic modifications in a number of different species including rats, mice, pigs, nonhuman primates, and human cell lines” (Shrock & Güell, 2017). Furthermore, beyond CRISPR’s successful modification of genes, experiments have recently confirmed that CRISPR-Cas9 technology can actually be used in the treatment of inherited diseases. The CRISPR-induced modifications now have a targeted purpose and are used to achieve desired results. “For example, CRISPR has successfully reintroduced normally functioning genes into the genome of a live animal, leading to the improvement of muscle function” (Shrock & Güell, 2017). Similarly, CRISPR has been used to enhance liver function and induce changes in cholesterol metabolism in mice. “CRISPR has also successfully corrected genetic mutations and achieved functional restoration in animal models of simple genetic conditions” (Shrock & Güell, 2017).
In humans, a recently proposed clinical trial is looking to test the efficacy of a CRISPR-Cas9 system in cancer patients. The researchers will edit the immune cells of the participants. “Scientists in China have successfully edited genes in human embryos, replacing a thalassemia-causing gene with its corrected form and achieving desired results” (Wang & Qi, 2016). Furthermore, United States-based companies have launched clinical trials for the application of CRISPR-Cas9 technologies to treat the β-thalassemia blood disorder. “Together, these applications suggest CRISPR might be used successfully to correct human diseases arising from single-gene mutations, where the target is clear and the underlying foundations of a disease are well understood” (Wang & Qi, 2016).
References
Barrangou, R., & Doudna, J. A. (2016). Applications of CRISPR technologies in research and beyond.
Nature biotechnology, 34(9), 933-941.
Shrock, E., & Güell, M. (2017). CRISPR in animals and animal models. Progress in molecular biology and
Translational science, 152, 95-114.
Wang, F., & Qi, L. S. (2016). Applications of CRISPR genome engineering in cell biology. Trends in cell
Biology, 26(11), 875-888.