CRISPR Technology And Its Applications For HIV

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CRISPR Technology and its Applications for HIV

Introduction

CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic

Repeats; this mechanism is the most significant warrior in a bacteria’s defense

system. In short terms, this is used by merely acting like a “surgeon” and

removing the mutated DNA strands. Although many may focus on the flaws of

CRISPR, the real beauty of CRISPR is how this technology can utilize for good

rather than harm.

After extensive research, we finally arrive at the CRISPR-Cas9

mechanism that we know today. This project brought scientist together from all

parts of the world. Of course just because it is “completed” does not mean there

could be flaws. All new technology has defects that can only be gotten after

extensive use of the “product.”

Many genetic diseases are associated with a simple mutation. A mutation

can be viewed as a change in the DNA that generally would not happen. Thinking

as a parent, giving birth to a child that has a DNA mutation can be troublesome

and often tiring. Many parents do not have the financial resources for the specific

upbringing the child requires. But if there were something that would find and

remove that mutation, despite the money, all parents would try their hardest get

this procedure done. This procedure would only affect the somatic (body) cells of

the child. The problem becomes when one changes the DNA to an egg or sperm

thus allowing the change to be passed on.

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As with any new technology, there are flaws, but do the errors outweigh

the benefits, most probably not. This technology gives the possibility of removing

Huntington’s or Tay-Sachs disease for our genome. Some could even go as far as

to say that it would be ethical for someone who is a carrier for such disease must

do this procedure. If they are not willing to and still are going to raise that child

with the possibility of developing these disease are unethical and can be

considered cruel. Who would ever raise a child with the option of a terrible life

full of pain and hospitalization? No one would ever put his or her child through

that.

HIV

HIV is believed to have emanated from a Chimpanzee in America in olden years.

It was transferred to humans through blood contact between people and the

infected chimpanzee when hunting for meat. In 2014, 44,073 people got

diagnosed with HIV in the United States. According to the world health

organization, 36.9 million people got infected. Standard precaution when having

HIV is hand washing, wearing gloves, masks and not sharing personal items with

the person infected. HIV is a treatable condition; they use antiretroviral and

adhere to your medication. This infection attacks the body’s immune system

especially the T cells. T cells are the cells that help fight the disease.

Results

Cells harbor coordinated duplicates of a single round HIV-1PNL4-3

whose genome needs arrangements encoding most of the Gag-Pol polyprotein,

however, envelops the full-length 5′ and 3′ LTR, and incorporates a quality

encoding the marker protein green fluorescent protein (GFP) supplanting Nef

protein in the inert state. HIV-1 articulation disposed of from the cells

communicating both Cas9 and gRNA articulation plasmids, appeared by stream

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cytometry recognition of GFP generation by haphazardly chose Cas9-positive

clonal cells with or without gRNA articulation. Likewise, I found that GFP

generation obstructed in numerous clones that communicated just a single gRNA,

to levels like those inspired by co-articulation of recommending that outflow of

either gRNA in single setup can start cleavage at both LTRs to accomplish the

destruction of proviral DNA.

Discussion

Notwithstanding its amazing restorative achievement and viability, ART

treatment can't kill HIV-1 from contaminated patients who should accordingly

experience long-lasting treatment. Another helpful technique is therefore required

keeping in mind the end goal to accomplish perpetual abatement enabling patients

to stop ART and lessen it's chaperon expenses and potential long-haul symptoms.

Our discoveries deliver vital boundaries to this objective, as we created

CRISPR/Cas9 systems that destroyed coordinated duplicates of HIV-1 from

human CD4+ T-cells, hindered HIV-1 disease in essential refined human CD4+

T-cells, and stifled viral replication ex vivo in fringe blood mononuclear cells

(PBMCs) and CD4+ T-cells of HIV-1+ patients.

The rapid developments in longevity extending technologies in recent

times have created new ethical concerns about the human population and its many

societies. Medical research into human longevity promises to significantly

improve human life by increasing not only its quantity but also its quality to a

degree it ordinarily would not be able to sustain. This increased longevity will

likely be accompanied by unexpected, possibly severe consequences which would

almost certainly affect our societies in unpredictable ways. Several authors have

written recently about new research and technological developments that could

significantly improve human lifespans which has numerous moral and ethical

implications for individuals and their societies.

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In her article, “Herzfeld, Noreen Healing and Enhancing 2009) new

biomedical research called CRISPR has developed into a crucial tool for use in

genetic manipulation. CRISPR/ Cas9 has immense potential for application in

furthering research into ways of advancing human health. Some potential

applications for CRISPR are in cancer and HIV/AIDS research. The benefits of

CRISPR/Cas9 come with additional risks and issues given that it is relatively new

technology. The foremost ethical concerns in this field of research are dictated by

the requirement for the benefits to be greater than the risks. Human genome

editing raises the question of justice and equality in line with concerns about who

will have access to such technologies. CRISPR/Cas9 technology poses the risk of

producing unintended, off-target mutations which may create unforeseen

complications to human beings. Disregarding such risks and proceeding with such

new research is tantamount to undermining the significance of human life in its

natural state. Noreen Herzfeld poses a question regarding the pluripotency of

human cells and asks whether all cells, therefore, have the potential to become a

human individual. She explains that “Each cell in our body contains the genetic

potential to become a human person, yet we instinctively know that a cell from

our blood, our skin, a particular organ is not in itself a person” (Herzfeld, p.33).

Another issue related to this is the ability of humans to create new life

utilizing the technology of genetic engineering. Religion and philosophy have

often discussed humanity’s power to create vs. god’s power. The debate has

become political, but advances are still being made. Ever since the discovery of

DNA by Watson and Crick, the process has been used to help alter the genes of

existing humans to create a better and healthier outcome of humans that may be

superior to humans already in existence. Some of this is already taking place with

Gene editing. It has been tested and used during in-vitro fertilization so that life

can be created for couples that can’t have children. The ethics behind this practice

come into play when gene editing is done to create the perfect human. This

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creation of the ideal human has ethical consequences because it makes humans

able to recreate something that before only God could do. It has presented moral

and political controversy and is still being discussed to decide where to draw the

line on creating artificial human life (Powers of Perfection: Genetic Engineering).

These technologies are leading the way to make life everlasting life. If we

have the power to control genes and there effects then eventually with enough

research, we may be able to stop the aging process altogether. It would lead to a

state of humans living far past their current life expectancies and possibly of

immortality for humankind. The importance of this concept being examined using

some animals that seem to have capabilities that humans don’t and seeing if they

can transfer these qualities over to human life forms. One example of this is the

TED Talk by Michael Archer that discusses bringing back species from

extinction. He outlines how bringing back certain types of animals that humans

killed off would be a first step in reintegrating the earth with animals that we

drove to extinction. One of the animals that he mentioned is a frog that incubates

her babies in her stomach and then throws them up when they are ready to hatch.

It is an important discovery because it means that the frog can change a part of its

body into an organ with a function that it was not initially intended. It could be

essential for humans who have diseases that debilitate parts of their bodies. It

may be a good reason to look into reanimation, but it does cross a fine ethical line.

If we were to bring back species that went extinct then what would the laws be

about reanimating humans using similar technology? It is an essential ethical

concept that the scientific community should consider carefully before moving

forward with bringing extinct animals back to life.

The rapid developments in artificial intelligence and cybernetics in recent

times have created new ethical concerns about the existence of machines with

higher intellectual capabilities than human beings. Such super intelligence

resources would significantly improve human life by hastening technological and

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scientific research to paces that humans would not ordinarily be able to sustain.

The central question that has always been attached to the topic of superhuman

artificial intelligence is how to ensure such a system remains a concern for human

welfare as its key priority. Without human-friendly motivations, superhuman

artificial intelligence could potentially undermine humanity by focusing on other

agendas that it could not be stopped from pursuing. Robert Geraci alludes to the

promise that technology holds for a more exciting future. He explains that “the

general disregard for humanoid bodies has not stopped comparison between

human beings and machines, particularly the vast intelligence to be made possible

by advances in AI” (Geraci, p.232).

Even though software development has always been a hindrance to the

creation of exceedingly capable artificial intelligence systems, technological

advances are increasingly making superhuman AI systems a much prospect for

the near future. Regarding the concerns about superhuman intelligence acting

against humanity, in the form of what he refers to as Apocalyptic AI, Geraci

explains that such an occurrence would be highly unlikely because it would

require such systems to take the kind of actual human beings (p.233). However,

with the ability to create bodies that are superior to those of human beings,

Apocalyptic AI would undoubtedly pose a threat to the human societal

establishment if it does not act in a human-friendly manner. A viable prospect for

avoiding such uncertainty would be to use artificial intelligence systems and non-

human forms to house human minds immortally, a practice which may guarantee

a place for human beings in the future regardless of what form it takes.

The twenty-first century has brought renewed excitement about prospects

for future space exploration, travel, and colonization. Many countries and

independent organizations are conducting expensive space expeditions to probe

the viability of human life beyond Earth, the one home that humanity has known

for all time. From a theological standpoint, various religions do not explicitly

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endorse or forbid space exploration. In fact, human beings perceived space

exploration as the ultimate transcendental achievement because it brought people

closer to “the heavens” which were deemed the realm of spiritual beings.

However, as people acquired more knowledge of space and appreciated its

endless expanse, it became apparent that area holds a much more significant

promise for the future of humanity, provided human beings can successfully

colonize extraterrestrial territories.

David Noble explains that human beings have always looked to space as

the next frontier of exploration. Quoting Rod Hyde, he tells that people have

always feared that staying on earth would leave humanity susceptible to

catastrophic calamities that may wipe out the entire species in a heartbeat (Noble,

p.118). Most religions do not explicitly endorse or rebuke space exploration.

However, religions such as Christianity promise an afterlife of immortality

without encouraging biological efforts aimed at lengthening human life. However,

the religious opposition to biological research that is intended towards

immortality stems from the interpretation of religious texts by individuals and not

from the explicit denunciation of such procedures in religious texts.

Saving a life can be viewed as being the same as delaying the end of life.

With this logic, it is reasonable for scientists to do all they can to extend human

life. However, some ethical challenges arise from this kind of thought. The

question of who will have access to the science required to make a person

immortal is a significant concern. The high costs associated with developing such

procedures might make them exclusively available to wealthy people who can

afford to pay for them. Another question is how a society that features

immortality will create room for future generations. Current organizations are

based on a delicate balance between people who are born and those who die.

Upsetting such a balance poses the risk of destabilizing human society as it exists

today. Another issue that is less debated but equally important is whether opinions

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on suicide and euthanasia will change if immortality becomes a possibility. With

people being able to live for as long as they want, will it be ethical to end the life

of an individual, and under what circumstances might such a decision become

viable? These are some of the ethical questions that arise from the debate on

immortality. (TED Talk, Year)

Conclusion

Personally, CRISPR has the possibility of removing disease from our

genome and make us, as a whole, stronger. Many are afraid that people would use

CRISPR to enhance phenotypes (beauty). Since this mechanism is relatively new

them, there is still room for regulations and guidelines. Why remove all

possibilities of a better life for our children. The research regarding DNA editing

is vital especially its implementation on curing and preventing hereditary

diseases. Therefore, the funding of the study should be via taxpayer monies and

not the private sectors. It is because, the research tackles and solves issues that

directly affect human beings and also nature hence finance from the taxpayers

will be applicable since they also benefit from the study. The research on this

topic is the best since it entails living things with human life inclusive. Think of

the better life they could have. Through CRISPR there would be no chances for

leukemia are other terrible cancers to plague their lives anymore. We must

provide a substantial and quite joyous experience for the next generation.

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Works Cited

"CRISPR TIMELINE." Broad Institute. Broad Institute, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

Geraci, Robert M. "Spiritual robots: Religion and Our Scientific View of the

Natural World." Theology and Science 4.3 (2006): 229-246.

Herzfeld, Noreen L. "Healing or Enhancing?" (2009).

Noble, David F. The Religion of Technology: The Divinity of Man and the Spirit

of Invention. Knopf, 2013.

Second Chance for Tasmanian Tigers and Fantastic Frogs: Perf. Michael Archer.

Second Chance for Tasmanian Tigers and Fantastic Frogs: Michael

Archer at TEDxDeExtinction. TEDx Talks, 2 Apr. 2013. Web. 14 Dec.

2016.

Wade, Nicholas. "Scientists Seek Ban on Method of Editing the Human

Genome." The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Mar. 2015.

Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

Zhang, Feng. "QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT CRISPR." Broad

Institute. Broad Institute, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

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