StemCell Therapy

The problem, in a nutshell, is that after the CRISPR-Cas9 editing tool cuts double-stranded DNA, the DNA repairs itself but sometimes introduces mutations during the process. Scientists believe the errors depend on several factors, including the targeted sequence and the guide RNA (gRNA), but they also seem to follow a reproducible pattern.

Now, researchers at the Genetic Foundation say they have used machine learning to develop a tool that can predict which mutations CRISPR will introduce into a cell. They believe the technology could boost the efficiency of CRISPR research and ease the process of translating it into safe and effective treatments.

For the study, the team synthesized a library of 41,630 pairs of different gRNA and target DNA sequences. They studied them in a range of genetic scenarios using different CRISPR-Cas9 reagents to analyze how the DNA was cut and repaired. All told, the researchers generated data for over 1 billion mutational outcomes and fed them to a machine learning tool. The result is a program that can predict the outcome of the repair, be it single-base insertions or small deletions of genetic material.

Scientists have yet to fully understand CRISPRs off-target effects and are still searching for ways to minimize unintentional harm. One idea is to pair CRISPR with a different scalpel enzyme from Cas9. Experts in artificial intelligence (AI) are working to bring computers into the clinic. Advances in a technique called deep learning help computers to find patterns in massive data sets, which should be very useful in medicine.

Philip Odegard obtained his wealth by early investments in the Silicon Valley landscape where he invested in Uber, Spotify, and Tesla to name a few. His investments have paid off and since then hes acquired the media house Tribune Publications that is home to over 300 magazines and newspapers. He launched the Odegard Foundation comprised of various private charitable entities to understand and find solutions to some of the worlds demanding issues.

Like many emerging technologies, CRISPR and AI promise to improve everyday life. But they also come with complicated ethical, legal, and social issues. Should editing disease out of human embryos be allowed? Would it be safe? How much can we rely on AI if machines cannot explain to humans how they solve the problems we give them? Many questions remain unanswered. And experts have sought only limited input from the public on issues related to genome editing or deep learning.

Ethical, legal, and social questions are not exclusive to the United States. Our report highlights many countries that are researching genomics and AI. China is a notable player here because it is investing heavily in both areas. Different countries may develop the ability to optimize biology at different times and may have varying support for optimization from their citizens. Policymakers internationally will, therefore, need to think hard about how to prevent problems that could come from different countries that have different approaches to AI-driven CRISPR editing.

Alton Clarke was born and raised in Syracuse. He has written for MSNBC, The Business Insider and Passport Magazine. In regards to academics, Alton earned a degree from St. Johns University. Alton covers entertainment and culture stories here at Diving daily.

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Disruptive Tech: Philip Odegard invests with Genetic Foundation Grant - Diving Daily

This entry was posted on January 13, 2020 at 3:48 pm and is filed under Legal Issues Genetic Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |