CRISPR Test On Monkeys And No Off-target Mutations
As the first human trials utilizing the potentially groundbreaking CRISPR gene editing technique are set to begin in the UK and the US, there are lingering concerns regarding the overall safety of this system. To address these concerns, a group of Chinese researchers has conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of CRISPR-Cas9 on non-human primates, aiming to determine if it leads to off-target mutations.
Last year, a contentious study proposed that CRISPR could introduce unintended mutations. However, due to numerous criticisms from scientists regarding the reliability of the data, the study was eventually retracted.
Although the previously flawed research has been retracted, significant apprehensions persist regarding the possibility of unintended mutations arising from gene editing using the CRISPR technique. The recent Chinese study represents the first comprehensive investigation that examines the relationship between the CRISPR process and de novo mutations, which are newly occurring mutations that arise spontaneously in a fertilized egg during the initial stages of embryogenesis, specifically in rhesus macaque monkeys.
Employing The System
The study was initiated by employing the CRISPR system on macaque zygotes, which are fertilized eggs. The primary objective of the researchers was to assess the targeting specificity of the technique by specifically targeting the deletion of a gene called MCPH1, known to be associated with birth defects in humans. In the embryos that underwent the initial treatment, the CRISPR process effectively eliminated the MCPH1 gene in 13 out of the 15 samples, showcasing successful results.
As a result, a total of five monkeys were eventually gestated, and four of them successfully survived delivery. All of the offspring monkeys exhibited the desired CRISPR modifications. However, the subsequent course of action involved conducting thorough whole genome sequencing to gain a deeper understanding of whether the gene-editing process had led to unintended mutations.
Read The Original Article: Chinese scientists test CRISPR on Monkeys and find no off-target mutations
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