[OT]:: Significant problems with CRISPR-Cas9 genetic editing.

[RussellMc]

I'm
(greatly)
out of my depth here AND the following comment is simplistic, and no doubt
badly put, BUT if the subject is of interest then you probably understand
enough to see how important it may be.

The current "magic bullet" of gene editing is CRISPR-Cas9 - a system which
uses a mechanism built into cells that can target and remove highly
specific genetic sequences. The "original" use of this mechanism is to
identify, 'remember', and target invading viruses. It has been co-opted to
allow genetic sequences matching
CRISPR attached 'guides
to be removed from target material.

What could go wrong?
About what you'd expect.
Alas.
Apparently.

- This paper suggests that the use of CRISPR-Cas9 may cause very
significant genetic damage at locations unrelated to the specified 'target'
and at large distances from the target (& so more liable to be overlooked.

- If true this is liable to be a major setback in the genomic modification
field.

Repair of double-strand breaks induced by CRISPR–Cas9 leads to large
deletions and complex rearrangements
Nature Biotechnology - July 2018


https://www.nature.com/articles/Nbt.4192#article-info

Wikipedia - long complex and interesting tutorial on CRISPR.

https://wiki2.org/en/CRISPR+Brights


Russell