In this post I will tell about three wonderful developments in genetic engineering from the last year. All of them, by the way, are the product of such sophisticated genetic engineering technology that we are still trying to figure out what its capacity is. And that means that these developments are just the tip of the iceberg, followed by many more
I know we think 2020 was one of the worst years, but the truth is that some very exciting things have happened in the biological arena that are about to – without exaggeration at all – change the world. And that is regardless of the vaccine.
In this post I will tell about three wonderful developments in genetic engineering from the last year. All of them, by the way, are the product of such sophisticated genetic engineering technology that we are still trying to figure out what its capacity is. And that means that these developments are just the tip of the iceberg, followed by many more.
So what did we have in 2020?
Genetic engineering for the treatment of blood diseases
Sickle cell anemia is one of the most common genetic diseases. The red blood cells take the form of a scythe and get stuck in the small blood vessels. A bit like a tourniquet all over the body. The disease has no cure, and patients are stuck with it for the rest of their lives. One can only reduce the intensity of the pain and try to deal with the inevitable complications[1].
So, at least, until now.
In mid-2019, doctors re-engineered the stem cells of 34-year-old Victoria Gray with sickle cell anemia.[2]. The cells were reprogrammed to produce round, healthy red blood cells. A year later, which means now, Gray is still perfectly healthy[3]. It is still too early to claim that the treatment cured her for the rest of her life, as we will have to wait several more decades for that, but there is no reason to think that her body will get rid of the engineered stem cells.
And so, in 2020, we showed that serious hereditary diseases can be treated with a one-time treatment, for at least one year – and probably much longer.
And this is just the beginning.
This year, promising results were published in two clinical trials in Germany, in which the cells of patients with a disease called beta-thalassemia were re-engineered – another blood disease that disrupts the function of red blood cells. These patients often receive blood transfusions to survive, but after treatment they no longer needed blood transfusions – and here, too, we may have been able to cure the disease completely, for the rest of our lives.
And why stop here? In the next decade you can expect more hereditary diseases to be corrected through genetic engineering. It is still difficult to know which diseases will be treated first, but this revolution has already begun to take place: medical treatment that directly affects the cause of the disease, and neutralizes it so that no further treatment is needed.
Suddenly 2020 looks a lot better, right?
Genetic engineering of mitochondria
The mitochondria (this is the term in the plural) are the powerhouses of almost every human cell. They are the ones through whom we can continue to exist. They have their own genetic code, which is buried deep within the content, and sometimes mutations can also occur in it. More than a million people suffer from inherited mitochondrial diseases, which often lead to premature death.
Normal genetic engineering has not helped treat these diseases so far, as the genetic code hidden by the mitochondria needs to be corrected. But this year, for the first time, groundbreaking tools capable of penetrating mitochondria and accurately altering their genetic code were demonstrated.[4]. These tools have not yet been tested on humans, but if you have read the first evolution in this post, you probably understand what the direction is. It will take many more years for this technology to reach the general public, but the first step in this direction will be taken in 2020. Our friend Mitochondria
Genetically engineered animals
We are living engineers at an increasing rate. To some people this may sound awful, but you should remember that we have been doing this for thousands of years by breeding animals with the desired traits with appropriate others. The new genetic engineering technology allows us to accelerate processes that have been going on for centuries, and generate them in just one year.
So what genetically engineered animals have the labs produced this year?
Let’s start with pigs. This year, pigs were engineered for the first time to be completely immune to a disease called porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, which has long spread throughout the world. In the EU alone, it costs the meat industry almost a billion and a half euros, and in the lives of masses of pigs. Through a relatively simple act of genetic engineering, the new pigs are disease resistant. The virus simply cannot connect to their cells. It is to be hoped that the meat industry will quickly adopt the new variety[5]. Not just in the name of humanity (because you know – the pigs are going to be killed anyway), but because a pig infected with the disease means we have wasted a lot of resources to raise it… and these went down the drain once it got sick.
So genetic engineering can also help prevent waste of resources that ultimately harms the environment. And not just in pigs: chickens have also been re-engineered to be immune to common bird disease[6].
The idea of giving animals disease resistance is already well known, but here’s another fascinating idea that has been proven successful this year: a small intervention in the calf’s genetic code has resulted in three-quarters of its offspring being male, instead of the usual half-and-half dice roll.[7]. Why is it good, you ask? Because female cows are less efficient at converting food into protein, so if we get more males – we can get more meat, with the same investment of resources[8]. A similar game in the genetic code of chickens may in the future mean that almost all the chicks that hatch will be female – thus preventing the premature death of millions of male chicks each year.
Well, let’s not be naive. Female chickens will also die after some time. But since half of the chicks today are not really needed, we can reduce the amount of resources needed for chickens to lay eggs by about half.
Again, genetic engineering for the environment.
Summary
All of this, and many other developments in the field of genetic engineering, occurred this year. One can already see the buds of the medical and biological revolution begin to open and soon bear fruit.
And last but not least, the fact that you’re excited about the huge potential of genetic engineering to improve the world is absolutely right. And if you’re terrified at the way we’re changing the world for the benefit of human beings – well, justice is with you in this case too. Ultimately, all technology is a double-edged sword – it can bring immense benefit to humanity, or adversely affect the world. Ultimately, it is our duty to choose to use it properly.
But in the meantime we will end with a greeting that no one has thought of: who will give and experience many more years like 2020!
More on the subject on the Yadan website:
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355876
[2] https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/12/25/784395525/a-young-mississippi-womans-journey-through-a-pioneering-gene-editing-experiment
[3] https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/23/877543610/a-year-in-1st-patient-to-get-gene-editing-for-sickle-cell-disease- is-thriving
[4] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02054-5
[5] https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/20/scientists-genetically-engineer-pigs-immune-to-costly-disease
[6] https://www.pnas.org/content/117/4/2108
[7] https://www.wired.com/story/a-crispr-calf-is-born-its-definitely-a-boy/
[8] https://www.wired.com/story/crispr-gene-editing-humane-livestock/
Dr. Roi Tzzena is a futurist, lecturer and author of the books “The Guide to the Future” and “Those Who Rule the Future”