Plans to genetically bring mammoths and other vanished animals back to life have scientific stakes far beyond the imagery of Jurassic Park
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CRISPR’s next target is the fetus genome
The goal is to treat unborn children as early as possible, before their disease causes irreversible damage. But the ambition is to do so without heritable DNA changes, that is, by targeting only somatic tissues and avoiding sex cells. Fetal genome editing, then, differs from embryo editing, which has raised so much controversy in recent years. The best way to understand how far it has come and how much remains to be done is to tell the story of the scientist most committed to this challenge. The opportunity is provided by a longread published in STAT, where Tippi MacKenzie’s biography is interwoven with a review of the field.
Continue readingThe dilemma of the first CRISPR patients: cure or fertility?
The approval of Casgevy, the new CRISPR option for sickle cell disease, is big news for American patients. The list price is high ($2.2 million) although lower than the non-CRISPR gene therapy approved by the FDA for the same pathology the same day. But in addition to economic sustainability, another issue worries scientists, clinicians, and patients: infertility.
Continue readingCRISPR and the cancer link. Who said what?
A pair of papers published in Nature Medicine have caused a stir about CRISPR-edited cells lacking a well-known tumor suppressor gene. STAT is doing an online chat next week to follow up the news. In the meantime, this is a sample of how the CRISPR community is commenting the story. Continue reading
CRISPR stocks, what’s boiling in the pot?
Up and down, following the excitement for the latest scientific exploit or frustration for disappointing results. CRISPR is young but already knows how volatile is the market. “Preprint wipes millions off CRISPR companies’ stocks,” cries the March issue of Nature Biotechnology. Continue reading
What a wonderful knife
The Swiss army knife is still the best analogy to describe what CRISPR can do, according to STAT’s top-ten, and we can’t disagree. But please take a look at this revised picture from Nature Reviews Genetics. CRISPR has learned new tricks; it’s much more than a pair of scissors by now.