This Biohacker Became the First Person to Edit His Own DNA
Josiah Zayner is the first individual known to have modified his personal DNA and he revealed the planet just how easy it is to do, live-streaming the process on his blog, “Science, Art, Beauty”. Zayner claims this was the second time he has genetically changed himself.
Utilizing CRISPR, a fairly new gene-editing method, he took out the protein Myostatin from a region in his forearm. Myostatin restricts muscle growth so he should, at least theoretically, notice a rise in muscle mass in this region after the experiment.
The process engaged simply one item of DNA that includes a protein (Cas9) and a guide RNA (gRNA), which essentially informs the protein the place to go. When the changed DNA was injected into his forearm, the protein and gRNA targeted and then deleted the myostatin gene.
Whether he’ll be gifted with superhuman strength, we’ll have to stand by and see but, as he states on his blog, that was never the goal of the experiment.
“The factor is that we are in the border of humanity transforming,” stated Zayner.
“This is the first of several people who will alter their genomes. This will take place for medical factors, for science, athletics or perhaps simply because individuals desired to or were tired.”
Currently an ardent advocate of citizen science and a self-identified biohacker, Zayner is an ex-NASA researcher, who functioned on producing bacteria to support human life on Mars.
His goal today is to democratize science and give everybody with the equipments for diy biology and genetic engineering– a somewhat controversial ambition. Some specialists have shared preoccupation that it might lead to a badly controlled community of DIY scientists that lack the oversight of conventional scientific organizations however others are much more positive.
“This is the first time in the history of the Earth that human beings are no longer servants to the genetics they are born with,” said Zayner.
“As I write this, the FDA is in the process of approving the first human gene therapy treatment. Still, it’s so slow for me, clinical trials have been occurring since before 2008. I desire to accelerate that. I want individuals to have a choice concerning their genetics.”
Read the original article on IFL Science.
