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Single Nucleotide Faults

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extra nucleotide within the sequence. Single nucleotide faults in DNA account for about 3000 of the world's genetic disorders. For down syndrome, the disorder is caused by having an extra chromosome in the 21 chromosome pairs. With CRISPR, the technology can tell Cas9 to simply cut out the extra chromosome. This seems to be an easy fix and while a modified version of Cas9 is already in the works. This new Cas9 will primarily be used as a proofreader within the body and will fix any faulty DNA sequences. For this method of ridding genetic disorder, it would be ideal to perform all of the CRISPR related work in the earlier stages of the baby's life such as the prenatal stage. Another way scientists are able to cure diseases besides genetic …show more content…

Fortunately this may all change as for the first time there is talk of wiping out malaria, mostly if not entirely from human existence. To first understand how this is possible, we must first discuss why is malaria, such a big problem and why is it so efficient in what it does. Malaria is commonly found parasites, including Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. these parasites commonly infects mosquitoes which feed off of the blood of various animals including humans. Interestingly, only female mosquitos are able to host the parasites needed to spread malaria. When the mosquito puncture people with their hypodermic like nose to drink the blood, typically a bit of the blood is regurgitated and when this is done, some of the mosquito spit is also put back into the person. In the spit exists the parasites which are responsible for the symptoms of malaria. Once the parasites are in the body, they will begin to make their way to the liver and eventually infect a large amount of liver cells until the parasites are mature. Once some of the parasites are mature, some will enter the bloodstream while others will remain dormant within the liver to ensure that not all of the parasites are …show more content…

Designer babies has been the term used by society to define the selection of traits within babies through genetic engineering. This process is done when the baby is still in the very early stages of life in the womb. Scientist will insert the “programmed” Cas9 to edit the unborn child's genome. For instance, the parents may want the child to have blue eyes instead of green eyes so what Cas9 will do is go to the DNA, more specifically where eye color traits are encrypted and Cas9 will simply edit the arrangement of the nucleotides to give the child blue eyes. Experimentation related to designer babies is already on its way though, and the Chinese were partially successful when experimenting with human embryos just this year. This technology is not completely understood, though as scientist haven't had a very long time to experiment and perfect the techniques in which “designer babies” will be made. Once the technology becomes a perfected though, the first babies that will be affected with CRISPR will most likely be children that have some sort of genetic disorder. When society becomes more comfortable with gene editing in humans, minor traits may be tinkered with then possibly the technology may be used at its full potential and increase traits like intelligence and athleticism. Aside from the CRISPR and Cas9 in genetic engineering, there exists

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