5 ms·

We understand biology extremely poorly. It’s only been twenty years since we got a decent look at the genome, and like 5 since we could start changing it at all

We understand biology extremely poorly. It’s only been twenty years since we got a decent look at the genome, and like 5 since we could start changing it at all reliably. What we’ve found is that human gene regulation is almost immeasurably complex. There are a few cases where we know exactly what changes to make to fix diseases, but they’re rare. Mostly we just have no idea what would happen if we started messing around with human genes. So, I think a measure of humility and caution is warranted before we start editing human embryos.

moffkalast 4y ago
A measure of humility? From humanity? That's never happened before in history, not even with nukes.
- magicalist 4y ago
  Are you agreeing here or are you arguing that because humans have shown a lack of restraint in the past they should continue to show a lack of restraint?
  - moffkalast 4y ago
    Well it's unrealistically optimistic is what I'm saying.
seydor 4y ago
and yet we did an almost real-time test of mrna injections in half the population
- nmjohn 4y ago
  mrna vaccines don't modify the human genome - this literally has nothing to do with the CRISPR topic.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - seydor 4y ago
    I was referring to the "we understand biology poorly" claim that is usually given Even so, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35723296/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35723296/
BenFranklin100 4y ago
To add to this, we have poor understanding of the sequential deployment of gene expression patterns over a lifetime. A genetic change that prevents a disease in an adult, might have unintended consequences in a child.
Llamamoe 4y ago
Most gene editing isn't tweaking the regulation of genes, nor is it inserting or removing genes, but rather swapping them out for near-identical copies that have slight differences such as not being associated with chronic illness, which is much, much more predictable.
- bglazer 4y ago
  Certainly, Mendelian diseases are a case where gene editing is currently justifiable. In fact, researchers have already cured “bubble boy” syndrome in several kids so that they can get a normal cold and recover just like anyone else. Remarkable stuff. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30995372/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30995372/
polski-g 4y ago
So we should probably start doing some experiments to better understand genetic biology then.

moffkalast 4y ago

A measure of humility? From humanity? That's never happened before in history, not even with nukes.

magicalist 4y ago
Are you agreeing here or are you arguing that because humans have shown a lack of restraint in the past they should continue to show a lack of restraint?
- moffkalast 4y ago
  Well it's unrealistically optimistic is what I'm saying.

seydor 4y ago

and yet we did an almost real-time test of mrna injections in half the population

nmjohn 4y ago
mrna vaccines don't modify the human genome - this literally has nothing to do with the CRISPR topic.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- seydor 4y ago
  I was referring to the "we understand biology poorly" claim that is usually given Even so, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35723296/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35723296/

BenFranklin100 4y ago

To add to this, we have poor understanding of the sequential deployment of gene expression patterns over a lifetime. A genetic change that prevents a disease in an adult, might have unintended consequences in a child.

Llamamoe 4y ago

Most gene editing isn't tweaking the regulation of genes, nor is it inserting or removing genes, but rather swapping them out for near-identical copies that have slight differences such as not being associated with chronic illness, which is much, much more predictable.

bglazer 4y ago
Certainly, Mendelian diseases are a case where gene editing is currently justifiable. In fact, researchers have already cured “bubble boy” syndrome in several kids so that they can get a normal cold and recover just like anyone else. Remarkable stuff. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30995372/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30995372/

polski-g 4y ago

So we should probably start doing some experiments to better understand genetic biology then.