Lecture 6 - Ethics of genome editing

Question 1

What are the 2 types of genome editing?

Answer 1

• somatic genome editing (e.g. treating blood disorder)
• heritable genome editing (e.g. changing gamete genetics)

Each have their own ethics

Question 2

Describe how Sickle cell disease is derived

Answer 2

Sickle cell disease can be derived from lowered haemoglobin levels. Reactivation of pathways involved in foetal haemoglobin production. The upregulation of this gene leads to more haemoglobin being produced

Question 3

What are the stakeholders involved in heritable human genome editing?

Answer 3

(ranked in order)

1. individual
2. family
3. scientific community (researchers)
4. medical institutions
5. drug companies - pharmaceuticals
6. society
7. religious groups

Question 4

What are the benefits of CRISPR technology for heritable genome editing?

Answer 4

• longer-lasting implications (heritability)
• modification of pathological genes (e.g. Huntington gene)
• Alleviate economic pressures deriving from treating diseases
• Rather than treating disease, it can prevent the disease from manifesting

Question 5

What are the risks of CRISPR technology for heritable genome editing?

Answer 5

• religious ethical problems/eugenics
• social inequality - who gets access - economic inequality
• off-target effects/long-term effects
• future generations can’t consent

Question 6

What Category (A-F) modification to confer resistance to HIV infection?

Answer 6

Category E - not heritable disease

Question 7

What are the stakeholders involved in heritable somatic genome editing?

Answer 7

EXAMPLE - CART-T cell therapy - leukaemia

1 - person
2 - medical institutions
3 - drug companies
4 - government
5 - society (future generations & employment)

Question 8

What are the benefits of CRISPR technology for somatic genome editing?

Answer 8

• Relatively non-invasive - e.g. only taking blood
• lower mortality rate
• lower chance of immune response as it occurs outside of body
• Use own T-cells so less likely to cause an immune response

Question 9

What are the risks of CRISPR technology for somatic genome editing?

Answer 9

• could lead to overproduction of cytokine - CRS (cytokine-release syndrome)
• immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome - cause unclear
• expensive