CRISPR used to remove extra chromosomes in Down syndrome and restore cell function

I genuinely wonder where the line is between curing defects and eugenics. It seems razor thin how it can swing easiy into dark territory.

This is from the future I always dreamed about, amazing

The lab did specify that there's a looooong road between here and putting this in the clinic, but it's a good to see.

I did not realize CRISPR was so powerful as to remove chromosomes entirely. Can CRISPR be used to change someone's genetic sex? Republicans would freak out.

This is the beginning of countless sci-fi stories. According to the TV and movies I've seen, this will lead to customizing fetuses, mostly for intelligence, and then the question becomes does society accept those people as their leaders (Brave New World) or criminalize their gene-enhanced intellect (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)?

While this is fabulous news I do worry that there could be similar done for other genetic conditions that are far more contentious as to whether they're a disability not.

Neurodivergence is the one that springs to mind right away. The majority of people on the autism spectrum are at level 1. While it has negatives there are positives into thinking and seeing the world differently.

How many of those would have been 'curered' in the womb by scared parents who've just been told that their child will be born autistic? Scared parents who's fear will mean when hearing that they think of someone at the far end of level 3.

Then what about for ADHD and dyslexia.

What about other physical conditions like dwarfism etc.

Can it remove my depression and make me love myself?

Holy crap. The obvious use for this would be in vitro. However, I cannot wait to see how this affects those already born. Could it be used on someone who is a 7 year old to rid them of this? What if they're 50? So cool. Can't wait to see where this goes.

That's a dilemma. The kids and parents not having the challenges is great, but also people with Downs are often some of the best humans to exist.

My uninformed guess is that even if you edit chromosomes it won't change someone. Like if you edit someone's DNA to give them DNA that makes blue eyes, their eyes won't turn blue. I think they are just like turn signals that direct growth of a being during development.

This seems good initially.

I just really really hope they won't try to "cure autism" with this next.

Autism is an important and fundamental part of me. The fact that it's often classified as a disease is understandable, but nevertheless sickens me.

I have mixed feelings about this. At first it seems great, but the line between “genetic defect” and eugenics can get very blurry.

There are many people with what some would consider a “defect” to be fixed that live incredibly fulfilling lives and bring an irreplaceable uniqueness to the world.

EDIT: I guess this wasn’t clear from my original comment, but I’m not arguing against this particular use case. I understand very well the challenges that down’s presents to both the person and their caretakers. I’m saying that I’m weary about the precedent this can set while there is no legal boundary between curing crippling diseases and simply changing undesirable (in the parents’ subjective view) traits.

Eugenics fuck this facist development!

How many generations of inbreeding would be necessary before it returns again?

Wasn't CRISPR used to clone Dolly the sheep that had a very short lifespan? Aren't there better editing techniques than it? Didn't we learn that there seems to be a huge checksum in the DNA and if something changes somewhere, the checksum doesn't add up and things go... well, dead.