Snip! Snip!
That is the fundamental mechanism of CRISPR/Cas9. This cutting-edge technology acts as molecular scissors that splices your DNA with remarkable precision.
CRISPR/Cas9’s function as a gene-editing tool can be better understood by comparing it to editing a Word document using the “cut and paste” feature. It is a complex that works by navigating its way to a target region of the DNA i.e. a faulty gene before making a double strand cut. After the DNA has been cut, it can be edited by deleting, inserting, or substituting new genes of interest. With CRISPR/Cas9, new possibilities are being opened for curing inherited diseases, treating cancer, and overcoming genetic disorders.
In 2020, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier shared the Nobel Chemistry Prize for discovering CRISPR-Cas9 as a method for genome editing. Interestingly, they collaborated long distance with Doudna residing in the United States and Charpentier’s team in 3 different European countries. Despite their breakthrough, Doudna and Charpentier are currently going on their own pathways since they don’t seem to see eye to eye about the future prospects of this technology. In the same year, Cancer Research Malaysia collaborated with the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge to identify genes that cause oral cancer growth by using CRISPR/Cas9. They did this by systematically deleting 20,000 genes in 21 oral cancer cell lines until they found a small set of genes that would cause cell death when removed. The data would be further leveraged for testing of anti-cancer drugs and diversify treatment options for oral cancer, especially in Asian countries where the prevalence is high.
Is Malaysia ready for CRISPR/Cas9?
Firstly, there are a few ethical concerns regarding the utilisation of CRISPR/Cas9 in Malaysia. The first concern is about “playing God”. Many science fiction literatures have illustrated the horrifying repercussions of people in power abusing gene editing technology for human exploitation. In the famous classic, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, unfortunate members of the society are predetermined into the lower caste system consisting of Gammas, Deltas and Epsilons. They are cloned to suit specific intellectual and physical attributes to maintain uniformity in serving the higher caste made up of Alphas and Betas. Although genetic manipulation is aggrandized and hyperbolized in this dystopian setting, there is no denying that there are clear parallels to current ethical issues in modern medicine.
For example, a number of scientists have used CRISPR/Cas9 to tread the grey areas of morality by masking behind the notion of experimenting for the greater good. In December 2019, Chinese scientist, He Jiankui was sentenced to 3 years in jail alongside a substantial fine for performing illegal gene editing on two human embryos. His mission was to edit the genes so that the twin girls were born resistant to HIV. This sparked controversy as the potential risk hugely overweighs the sought benefit. The procedure could have caused permanent disabilities or even death, meanwhile there was no urgency to warrant justifying the experiment. Moreover, the procedure was done without approval from the Chinese government, violating the law of human experimentation. His actions appeared to stem from self-interest and a pursuit of fame, disregarding ethical and scientific standards.
Moreover, another limitation to expanding this technology is public acceptance. Public acceptance is crucial to influence policymakers to construct the most favourable legal framework and policies. Due to the pioneering nature of this technology, there are very limited guidelines to adhere to. Besides that, it’s extremely hard to gain funding and investment if the public is sceptical regarding the use of this technology. Several studies have been conducted among Malaysians regarding their acceptance of biotechnology. Groups without a scientific background typically showing moderate or low level of awareness, particularly religious leaders. To improve public acceptance of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, it’s essential to implement targeted educational programs that focus on the fundamentals of biotechnology. These initiatives should aim to increase awareness and understanding among various demographics, particularly those without a scientific background.
In conclusion, the future of CRISPR/Cas9 technology is likely to be transformative, with the potential to revolutionize medicine, agriculture, and various scientific fields. It has become one of the most promising technologies to cure cancer, a mission that has been ongoing for the past 250 years. Therefore, the government should allocate more resources to invest in CRISPR/Cas9 as it holds a convincing promise to help us achieve more milestones in biotechnology. However, we must remain cautious of the ethical concerns surrounding its use, ensuring that it is utilised responsibly and with proper oversight to avoid unintended consequences.
Sangharsh Lohakare @Unsplash
References
Devlin, H. (2023). Scientist Who Edited Babies’ Genes Says He Acted ‘too Quickly’. The Guardian. [online] 4 Feb. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/04/scientist-edited-babies-genes-acted-too-quickly-he-jiankui.
Kalidasan, V. and Theva Das, K. (2021). Is Malaysia Ready for Human Gene Editing: A Regulatory, Biosafety and Biosecurity Perspective. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 9. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2021.649203.
MALAYSIAN SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY GENES THAT CAUSE ORAL CANCER GROWTH, PAVES WAY FOR TARGETED TREATMENT. (n.d.). Available at: https://www.cancerresearch.my/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/PRESS-RELEASE-Malaysian-Scientists-Identify-Genes-That-Can-Be-Targeted-To-Kill-Oral-Cancer-Cells.pdf [Accessed 1 Dec. 2024].
