CRISPR can be used by scientists to cut and paste almost any desired DNA sequence. Defective genes can be cut out and replaced with the desired, functioning gene, or to insert new genes that give the recipient better qualities.
Asthma is disease that causes a lifetime of difficult symptoms and is often fatal. Researchers have identified a biochemical called 12, 13-diHOME (12,13-dihydroxy-9Z-octadecenoic acid). It is produced by infant gut bacteria. It predicts the risk of allergy and asthma in childhood. Since the bacteria that make the molecule likely play other roles that are beneficial, eliminating them outright may not be the best approach. So, it is better to edit genes of microbes in the gut and airways that play a role in the disease.
CRISPR can also be used to treat and cure diseases that are not linked to the microbiome. It may be able to cure many types of cancer, as well as hemophilia, sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, leukemia, childhood blindness, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease and Covid-19. For example, Chinese scientists have started the first clinical trial using CRISPR to treat and possibly even cure lung cancer.
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