The process of removing cells from the body isn't mutagenic. You are correct, however, in the assumption that it isn't ready for clinical practice quite yet, but it should be within a few years. At the moment, this only looks useful for single-gene traits caused by simple mutations (i.e. small deletions/insertions or single nucleotide polymorphisms, as opposed to major chromosomal rearrangements).
While I haven't read the article, I have heard a presentation on this from one of the researchers involved.
The old technology involves the use of a retrovirus containing the correct copy of the X chromosome gene involved. This copy inserts itself (nearly randomly) into the DNA. The problem with this was that you couldn't control the point of insertion, causing a whole new set of diseases.
The new technology involves repairing the endogenous gene sequence rather than inserting a good copy at another locus. By doing this, you get around the problems caused by random retroviral insertion. The key breakthrough in the new technology was the ability to make proteins that can cleave highly specific sequences. Researchers at Sangamo can custom make a protein to bind at only one place in a genome of 3 billion base pairs.
Both of these techniques work by taking out some stem cells from your body, transforming them, and placing them back in with your normal stem cells. This means that the DNA sequence of your germ cells, the cells that pass down your DNA to your children, is not changed.
actually, it does say a lot. one of the things about earth that makes it so hospitable to life is the magnetic field surrounding us which stops many high-energy particles from mutating our DNA or just killing us. the existence of a magnetic field around europa makes it more likely to have the conditions needed for life.
"patriotism is a virtue of the vicious."
"disobedience was the original virtue."
you could actually go so far as to say that Niven and Pournelle predicted this. in the book Footfall, the Earth is invaded by aliens and the president gathers together top science fiction authors as a team of specialists. they put together a lot of the best sci fi ideas to help save the world. very good book...except the aliens looked like baby elephants.
another thing that science fiction writers deal with is predicting how the public will react to new technologies. they often have true insight.
"patriotism is a virtue of the vicious." "disobedience was the original virtue."
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The process of removing cells from the body isn't mutagenic. You are correct, however, in the assumption that it isn't ready for clinical practice quite yet, but it should be within a few years. At the moment, this only looks useful for single-gene traits caused by simple mutations (i.e. small deletions/insertions or single nucleotide polymorphisms, as opposed to major chromosomal rearrangements).
While I haven't read the article, I have heard a presentation on this from one of the researchers involved.
The old technology involves the use of a retrovirus containing the correct copy of the X chromosome gene involved. This copy inserts itself (nearly randomly) into the DNA. The problem with this was that you couldn't control the point of insertion, causing a whole new set of diseases.
The new technology involves repairing the endogenous gene sequence rather than inserting a good copy at another locus. By doing this, you get around the problems caused by random retroviral insertion. The key breakthrough in the new technology was the ability to make proteins that can cleave highly specific sequences. Researchers at Sangamo can custom make a protein to bind at only one place in a genome of 3 billion base pairs.
Both of these techniques work by taking out some stem cells from your body, transforming them, and placing them back in with your normal stem cells. This means that the DNA sequence of your germ cells, the cells that pass down your DNA to your children, is not changed.
If you read the article you'd have noticed that these are ordinary household varieties of fungi.
"patriotism is a virtue of the vicious."
"disobedience was the original virtue."
actually, it does say a lot. one of the things about earth that makes it so hospitable to life is the magnetic field surrounding us which stops many high-energy particles from mutating our DNA or just killing us. the existence of a magnetic field around europa makes it more likely to have the conditions needed for life.
"patriotism is a virtue of the vicious."
"disobedience was the original virtue."
you could actually go so far as to say that Niven and Pournelle predicted this. in the book Footfall, the Earth is invaded by aliens and the president gathers together top science fiction authors as a team of specialists. they put together a lot of the best sci fi ideas to help save the world. very good book...except the aliens looked like baby elephants.
another thing that science fiction writers deal with is predicting how the public will react to new technologies. they often have true insight.
"patriotism is a virtue of the vicious."
"disobedience was the original virtue."