In China, will begin experiments with human DNA
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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In China, scientists were allowed to conduct experiments with the human genome and in August research will start using CRISPR / Cas9 technology ("DNA scissors"). Thanks to this technology, experts will be able to remove defective DNA sections and replace them with new ones, which will help in the treatment of hereditary and oncological diseases.
The experiments will be conducted in Sichuan University, in which patients with inoperable lung cancer will participate . The technology that Chinese scientists are going to try is to change T-lymphocytes and, according to experts, it has a number of advantages, especially for hopeless patients.
The behavior of immunity cells corresponds to the protein PD-1 located on the surface of cells, it is this protein that does not allow lymphocytes to attack healthy cells, but the same protein does not give immunity to destroy cancer cells. Recent work with animals has shown that when the PD-1 protein is blocked, the lymphocytes are activated and begin to destroy cancerous tumors.
At this stage, scientists intend to reprogram T-lymphocytes, previously "stretching" them from the blood of volunteers. The system "Scissors for DNA" will remove genes encoding the protein PD-1, it is assumed that the lymphocytes will begin to identify atypical cells and destroy them, which will slow the course of the disease. The reprogrammed T-lymphocytes will be replicated in the laboratory and injected back into patients' blood.
China is indisputably the leader in the field of genetic engineering. Last year, experiments with defective human embryos showed that the technology of "Scissors for DNA" does not lead to the expected result, therefore, modified lymphocytes will be introduced to patients only after all the necessary checks and analyzes are performed. The probability that the immune cells after the modification will not work quite the way they are expected is quite high. According to scientists, there is a risk that lymphocytes will begin to destroy not only cancerous, but healthy cells, thereby leading to the death of the patient.
According to researchers, one should not expect miraculous cure for cancer of volunteers. Patients with metastatic cancer participate in the experiment, and it will be good if the technology allows to slow down the development of the disease somewhat.
All patients who want to take part in the experiment are warned about possible risks, but are ready to sacrifice themselves for the sake of saving millions of other cancer patients.
Experiments with the human genome are banned in many countries because of moral and ethical considerations, but in China they are more loyal, so scientists hope they can become leaders in this field.
The level of research work in China's laboratories is truly impressive, in addition, there are the best specialists from all over the world who have access to the latest technical solutions. In addition, science in China is supported in principle by both society and the state (permission to conduct experiments is not problematic, unlike other countries) and no scientific myths or fears can stop scientific and technological progress in this country, for example, Such that have risen around GMOs.
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