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Editing our evolution: CRISPR/CAS | Helen O’Neill | TEDxGoodenoughCollege


we are in the middle of a genetic

we are in the middle of a genetic revolution one which will change

revolution one which will change

revolution one which will change everything one which could mean that all

everything one which could mean that all

everything one which could mean that all genetic illness and disease could be not

genetic illness and disease could be not

genetic illness and disease could be not just treated but affordably cured do you

just treated but affordably cured do you

just treated but affordably cured do you know what the number one cause of

know what the number one cause of

know what the number one cause of genetic illnesses its reproduction when

genetic illnesses its reproduction when

genetic illnesses its reproduction when we mate we mutate I’m not very romantic

we mate we mutate I’m not very romantic

we mate we mutate I’m not very romantic in the 1700s farmers tried to take the

in the 1700s farmers tried to take the

in the 1700s farmers tried to take the guesswork out of this gamble by

guesswork out of this gamble by

guesswork out of this gamble by selective breeding this is the beginning

selective breeding this is the beginning

selective breeding this is the beginning of the Agricultural Revolution they

of the Agricultural Revolution they

of the Agricultural Revolution they realized that if you cross large male

realized that if you cross large male

realized that if you cross large male pig with large female pig you would get

pig with large female pig you would get

pig with large female pig you would get a lot more meat for your mate in this

a lot more meat for your mate in this

a lot more meat for your mate in this simple genetic formula of meat squared

simple genetic formula of meat squared

simple genetic formula of meat squared changed everything it was simple and

changed everything it was simple and

changed everything it was simple and this was before they knew about DNA what

this was before they knew about DNA what

this was before they knew about DNA what do we know about DNA and more

do we know about DNA and more

do we know about DNA and more importantly what have we left to find

importantly what have we left to find

importantly what have we left to find out

DNA is the Lego of our legacy with just

DNA is the Lego of our legacy with just a few simple pieces we can make very

a few simple pieces we can make very

a few simple pieces we can make very complex beings and if you think of DNA

complex beings and if you think of DNA

complex beings and if you think of DNA as an alphabet then our genomes are the

as an alphabet then our genomes are the

as an alphabet then our genomes are the language and our genes the words only

language and our genes the words only

language and our genes the words only this alphabet only consists of four

this alphabet only consists of four

this alphabet only consists of four letters a T G and C now it’s not

letters a T G and C now it’s not

letters a T G and C now it’s not surprising that this language is complex

surprising that this language is complex

surprising that this language is complex what is surprising is that in the 14

what is surprising is that in the 14

what is surprising is that in the 14 years since the human genome was

years since the human genome was

years since the human genome was sequenced much of this language has yet

sequenced much of this language has yet

sequenced much of this language has yet to be deciphered

to be deciphered

to be deciphered and that’s because genes like words have

and that’s because genes like words have

and that’s because genes like words have more than one meaning mutations are like

more than one meaning mutations are like

more than one meaning mutations are like spelling mistakes sometimes a spelling

spelling mistakes sometimes a spelling

spelling mistakes sometimes a spelling mistake can make very little difference

mistake can make very little difference

mistake can make very little difference to the meaning of the word other times

to the meaning of the word other times

to the meaning of the word other times it can be catastrophic I’ll give you

it can be catastrophic I’ll give you

it can be catastrophic I’ll give you some examples here is a present thank

some examples here is a present thank

some examples here is a present thank you if we swap the e for the a we get a

you if we swap the e for the a we get a

you if we swap the e for the a we get a very different gift hair is a present

now it’s not always the change of one

now it’s not always the change of one letter which makes the difference you

letter which makes the difference you

letter which makes the difference you can have deletions and you can also have

can have deletions and you can also have

can have deletions and you can also have insertions of letters into the

insertions of letters into the

insertions of letters into the completely wrong place here is a

completely wrong place here is a

completely wrong place here is a president but we can learn from

president but we can learn from

president but we can learn from mutations and previously this was our

mutations and previously this was our

mutations and previously this was our only way of studying disease when a

only way of studying disease when a

only way of studying disease when a mutation occurs in the same people with

mutation occurs in the same people with

mutation occurs in the same people with the same illness and we see the same

the same illness and we see the same

the same illness and we see the same spelling mistake in each of their DNA we

spelling mistake in each of their DNA we

spelling mistake in each of their DNA we can find a cause for that disease but

can find a cause for that disease but

can find a cause for that disease but what about finding a cure previously

what about finding a cure previously

what about finding a cure previously we’ve relied on looking at these

we’ve relied on looking at these

we’ve relied on looking at these patterns in people to find the cure we

patterns in people to find the cure we

patterns in people to find the cure we never really knew what we were going to

never really knew what we were going to

never really knew what we were going to expect until we actually waited for that

expect until we actually waited for that

expect until we actually waited for that to happen now in the 70s scientists

to happen now in the 70s scientists

to happen now in the 70s scientists learned that if you could put one piece

learned that if you could put one piece

learned that if you could put one piece of DNA from one organism into another

of DNA from one organism into another

of DNA from one organism into another this was met with both curiosity for the

this was met with both curiosity for the

this was met with both curiosity for the type of people who cared and concern and

type of people who cared and concern and

type of people who cared and concern and maybe the concern was justified was but

maybe the concern was justified was but

maybe the concern was justified was but so too was the potential for progress

so too was the potential for progress

so too was the potential for progress and in 1974 the world’s for

and in 1974 the world’s for

and in 1974 the world’s for genetically altered mouse was made this

genetically altered mouse was made this

genetically altered mouse was made this revolutionized our way of treating

revolutionized our way of treating

revolutionized our way of treating studying and learning about disease in a

studying and learning about disease in a

studying and learning about disease in a way that we could never do it before him

way that we could never do it before him

way that we could never do it before him in the 1980s the first patent was given

in the 1980s the first patent was given

in the 1980s the first patent was given for a microbe which could eat oil this

for a microbe which could eat oil this

for a microbe which could eat oil this was used to clear up oil spills all over

was used to clear up oil spills all over

was used to clear up oil spills all over the world probably the best use of this

the world probably the best use of this

the world probably the best use of this genetic technology was in our health

genetic technology was in our health

genetic technology was in our health care treatments and many of the

care treatments and many of the

care treatments and many of the treatments that we take for granted

treatments that we take for granted

treatments that we take for granted today are produced by means of

today are produced by means of

today are produced by means of engineered life such as blood clotting

engineered life such as blood clotting

engineered life such as blood clotting factors for people with hemophilia

factors for people with hemophilia

factors for people with hemophilia growth hormones for people with

growth hormones for people with

growth hormones for people with pituitary disorders and even insulin can

pituitary disorders and even insulin can

pituitary disorders and even insulin can be created completely in the lab without

be created completely in the lab without

be created completely in the lab without the need for animal organs it can be

the need for animal organs it can be

the need for animal organs it can be grown in bacteria which work as many

grown in bacteria which work as many

grown in bacteria which work as many production factories bacteria are not as

production factories bacteria are not as

production factories bacteria are not as clever very useful after this we

clever very useful after this we

clever very useful after this we realized that we must learn more and

realized that we must learn more and

realized that we must learn more and after this we began the genetic

after this we began the genetic

after this we began the genetic revolution so genetic engineering was

revolution so genetic engineering was

revolution so genetic engineering was born when we were able to put pieces of

born when we were able to put pieces of

born when we were able to put pieces of DNA from one into organism into the next

DNA from one into organism into the next

DNA from one into organism into the next and the current technologies that we use

and the current technologies that we use

and the current technologies that we use rely on curing by compensation such as

rely on curing by compensation such as

rely on curing by compensation such as giving that insulin to patients with

giving that insulin to patients with

giving that insulin to patients with diabetic

diabetic

diabetic with diabetes who cannot produce it

with diabetes who cannot produce it

with diabetes who cannot produce it themselves or we cure by concealing such

themselves or we cure by concealing such

themselves or we cure by concealing such as giving pain medication to temporarily

as giving pain medication to temporarily

as giving pain medication to temporarily alleviate pain but what about curing by

alleviate pain but what about curing by

alleviate pain but what about curing by correction nowadays we can use methods

correction nowadays we can use methods

correction nowadays we can use methods to harvest the tools that we already

to harvest the tools that we already

to harvest the tools that we already have and use these to better further our

have and use these to better further our

have and use these to better further our understanding of disease in fact most of

understanding of disease in fact most of

understanding of disease in fact most of the drugs that we use nowadays are

the drugs that we use nowadays are

the drugs that we use nowadays are manufactured with the idea that

manufactured with the idea that

manufactured with the idea that everyone’s genetics is the same they

everyone’s genetics is the same they

everyone’s genetics is the same they take no accountability for the fact that

take no accountability for the fact that

take no accountability for the fact that there are genetic differences between

there are genetic differences between

there are genetic differences between ethnicities and people and certainly

ethnicities and people and certainly

ethnicities and people and certainly males and females many drug trials that

males and females many drug trials that

males and females many drug trials that we use at the moment were all tested on

we use at the moment were all tested on

we use at the moment were all tested on Caucasian males aged between 18 and 40

Caucasian males aged between 18 and 40

Caucasian males aged between 18 and 40 even preclinical drug trials are carried

even preclinical drug trials are carried

even preclinical drug trials are carried out on male mice to avoid the Easter

out on male mice to avoid the Easter

out on male mice to avoid the Easter cycle and the hormonal fluctuations in a

cycle and the hormonal fluctuations in a

cycle and the hormonal fluctuations in a female Mouse that means that true

female Mouse that means that true

female Mouse that means that true pharmacological interactions are not

pharmacological interactions are not

pharmacological interactions are not really being accounted for in sometimes

really being accounted for in sometimes

really being accounted for in sometimes over 50% of the population that’s a lot

over 50% of the population that’s a lot

over 50% of the population that’s a lot of pointless prescribing well what if

of pointless prescribing well what if

of pointless prescribing well what if your prescription was personal tailored

your prescription was personal tailored

your prescription was personal tailored to your genetics in fact bacteria do

to your genetics in fact bacteria do

to your genetics in fact bacteria do have a mechanism of tailoring their

have a mechanism of tailoring their

have a mechanism of tailoring their genetics and it’s called their immunity

genetics and it’s called their immunity

genetics and it’s called their immunity why not make our prescriptions

why not make our prescriptions

why not make our prescriptions personalized

personalized

personalized to each of our genomes after all cost of

to each of our genomes after all cost of

to each of our genomes after all cost of genetic sequencing has fallen the

genetic sequencing has fallen the

genetic sequencing has fallen the ability to read every single letter in

ability to read every single letter in

ability to read every single letter in the book that is U has gone from over a

the book that is U has gone from over a

the book that is U has gone from over a million ten years ago to under a

million ten years ago to under a

million ten years ago to under a thousand now and is constantly falling

thousand now and is constantly falling

thousand now and is constantly falling so what about these bacteria who can

so what about these bacteria who can

so what about these bacteria who can edit their own genome well how how they

edit their own genome well how how they

edit their own genome well how how they work is to use it as an immune system so

work is to use it as an immune system so

work is to use it as an immune system so we all recognize that we have an immune

we all recognize that we have an immune

we all recognize that we have an immune system which is which we need to fight

system which is which we need to fight

system which is which we need to fight off bacteria bacteria to need an immune

off bacteria bacteria to need an immune

off bacteria bacteria to need an immune system and how this works is to

system and how this works is to

system and how this works is to recognize invading bacteria cut it up

recognize invading bacteria cut it up

recognize invading bacteria cut it up and insert it into their own pretty

and insert it into their own pretty

and insert it into their own pretty useful CRISPR is the immune system of

useful CRISPR is the immune system of

useful CRISPR is the immune system of bacteria and its acronym

bacteria and its acronym

bacteria and its acronym explains how it works it stands for

explains how it works it stands for

explains how it works it stands for clustered regularly interspaced short

clustered regularly interspaced short

clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats okay it doesn’t

palindromic repeats okay it doesn’t

palindromic repeats okay it doesn’t explain it what it does do is it refers

explain it what it does do is it refers

explain it what it does do is it refers to the genetic sequence of bacteria and

to the genetic sequence of bacteria and

to the genetic sequence of bacteria and in these bacteria there were pieces of

in these bacteria there were pieces of

in these bacteria there were pieces of DNA which puzzled scientists because

DNA which puzzled scientists because

DNA which puzzled scientists because they didn’t belong to that bacteria they

they didn’t belong to that bacteria they

they didn’t belong to that bacteria they soon discovered that these in between

soon discovered that these in between

soon discovered that these in between pieces of DNA belonged to other bacteria

pieces of DNA belonged to other bacteria

pieces of DNA belonged to other bacteria and other viruses and what they realized

and other viruses and what they realized

and other viruses and what they realized what these were the chopped-up remains

what these were the chopped-up remains

what these were the chopped-up remains of viruses and bacteria that had

of viruses and bacteria that had

of viruses and bacteria that had previously tried to infect that bacteria

previously tried to infect that bacteria

previously tried to infect that bacteria essentially every interspaced piece

essentially every interspaced piece

essentially every interspaced piece served as a genetic timeline for every

served as a genetic timeline for every

served as a genetic timeline for every infection that that bacteria had fought

infection that that bacteria had fought

infection that that bacteria had fought and won and it’s this fight that’s of

and won and it’s this fight that’s of

and won and it’s this fight that’s of interest to us if we can use this clever

interest to us if we can use this clever

interest to us if we can use this clever immune system to locate a piece of DNA

immune system to locate a piece of DNA

immune system to locate a piece of DNA recognize it cut it and insert it into

recognize it cut it and insert it into

recognize it cut it and insert it into our own and uses are endless

our own and uses are endless

our own and uses are endless now the discovery of CRISPR was far from

now the discovery of CRISPR was far from

now the discovery of CRISPR was far from overnight but its global uptake and

overnight but its global uptake and

overnight but its global uptake and application worm and it’s easy to see

application worm and it’s easy to see

application worm and it’s easy to see why CRISPR is like the smartphone of

why CRISPR is like the smartphone of

why CRISPR is like the smartphone of science if we can use this in the same

science if we can use this in the same

science if we can use this in the same way as smartphones by updating our

way as smartphones by updating our

way as smartphones by updating our technology we can maybe look to cure

technology we can maybe look to cure

technology we can maybe look to cure some diseases many genetic diseases

some diseases many genetic diseases

some diseases many genetic diseases cannot be cured so you might ask why

cannot be cured so you might ask why

cannot be cured so you might ask why should I care about CRISPR what does it

should I care about CRISPR what does it

should I care about CRISPR what does it matter well for the majority of genetic

matter well for the majority of genetic

matter well for the majority of genetic disorders and cancers and diseases there

disorders and cancers and diseases there

disorders and cancers and diseases there is no cure there’s only care many of

is no cure there’s only care many of

is no cure there’s only care many of even if we take single gene disorders

even if we take single gene disorders

even if we take single gene disorders these are the disorders which are caused

these are the disorders which are caused

these are the disorders which are caused due to a mutation in a single gene these

due to a mutation in a single gene these

due to a mutation in a single gene these are the ones which are most likely to be

are the ones which are most likely to be

are the ones which are most likely to be used for this technology or treated

used for this technology or treated

used for this technology or treated there are between five and eight

there are between five and eight

there are between five and eight thousand monogenic or single gene

thousand monogenic or single gene

thousand monogenic or single gene disorders and it’s thought that together

disorders and it’s thought that together

disorders and it’s thought that together they will affect 6% of the population at

they will affect 6% of the population at

they will affect 6% of the population at any time in their lives so even if we

any time in their lives so even if we

any time in their lives so even if we take this so-called rare form of genetic

take this so-called rare form of genetic

take this so-called rare form of genetic disorders these will affect a lot of

disorders these will affect a lot of

disorders these will affect a lot of people if we could begin to understand

people if we could begin to understand

people if we could begin to understand and begin to treat monogenic disorders

and begin to treat monogenic disorders

and begin to treat monogenic disorders are only a small example of the

are only a small example of the

are only a small example of the disorders which could be treated how it

disorders which could be treated how it

disorders which could be treated how it could work is in two ways one is to

could work is in two ways one is to

could work is in two ways one is to treat the person who’s already sick the

treat the person who’s already sick the

treat the person who’s already sick the other is to prevent the illness in the

other is to prevent the illness in the

other is to prevent the illness in the first place now in the first put very

first place now in the first put very

first place now in the first put very simply we could take cells from a person

simply we could take cells from a person

simply we could take cells from a person alter them and fix them and put them

alter them and fix them and put them

alter them and fix them and put them back in that person

back in that person

back in that person doing this is not new gene therapy has

doing this is not new gene therapy has

doing this is not new gene therapy has been attempting to do this for over 30

been attempting to do this for over 30

been attempting to do this for over 30 years and in fact older mechanisms are

years and in fact older mechanisms are

years and in fact older mechanisms are currently being used the first clinical

currently being used the first clinical

currently being used the first clinical trial has begun for treating up type of

trial has begun for treating up type of

trial has begun for treating up type of blood cancer leukemia how it works is to

blood cancer leukemia how it works is to

blood cancer leukemia how it works is to take patients cells

take patients cells

take patients cells process them in the lab and about two

process them in the lab and about two

process them in the lab and about two weeks later at a cost of 10,000 pounds

weeks later at a cost of 10,000 pounds

weeks later at a cost of 10,000 pounds those cells are put back in that patient

those cells are put back in that patient

those cells are put back in that patient and the results are very promising but

and the results are very promising but

and the results are very promising but these cells can only be used for that

these cells can only be used for that

these cells can only be used for that patient CRISPR could change that using

patient CRISPR could change that using

patient CRISPR could change that using CRISPR we could take these cells

CRISPR we could take these cells

CRISPR we could take these cells genetically modify them and they could

genetically modify them and they could

genetically modify them and they could be used for hundreds of patients at a

be used for hundreds of patients at a

be used for hundreds of patients at a fraction of the cost on time but just

fraction of the cost on time but just

fraction of the cost on time but just like a smartphone CRISPR is constantly

like a smartphone CRISPR is constantly

like a smartphone CRISPR is constantly updating in the last year alone we’ve

updating in the last year alone we’ve

updating in the last year alone we’ve found more uses we have refined its

found more uses we have refined its

found more uses we have refined its applicability and made it more precise

applicability and made it more precise

applicability and made it more precise by sequencing the bacterial genomes of

by sequencing the bacterial genomes of

by sequencing the bacterial genomes of many other bacteria before ethics is a

many other bacteria before ethics is a

many other bacteria before ethics is a big problem when it comes to this but we

big problem when it comes to this but we

big problem when it comes to this but we need to improve our technology in order

need to improve our technology in order

need to improve our technology in order to understand the repercussions and

to understand the repercussions and

to understand the repercussions and maybe there could be none maybe they

maybe there could be none maybe they

maybe there could be none maybe they could be only good our understanding of

could be only good our understanding of

could be only good our understanding of genetics is getting better the ability

genetics is getting better the ability

genetics is getting better the ability to sequence is falling and the ability

to sequence is falling and the ability

to sequence is falling and the ability to edit has arrived I’m not here to

to edit has arrived I’m not here to

to edit has arrived I’m not here to discuss the limitations because not

discuss the limitations because not

discuss the limitations because not everyone wants to be better faster

everyone wants to be better faster

everyone wants to be better faster CRISPR is stronger but I want to do is

CRISPR is stronger but I want to do is

CRISPR is stronger but I want to do is put it in context with some of the

put it in context with some of the

put it in context with some of the therapies that we already know and maybe

therapies that we already know and maybe

therapies that we already know and maybe say that what we have is not necessarily

say that what we have is not necessarily

say that what we have is not necessarily good enough and move you beyond caution

good enough and move you beyond caution

good enough and move you beyond caution to curiosity I don’t want to ask you if

to curiosity I don’t want to ask you if

to curiosity I don’t want to ask you if you’re for or against it but not

you’re for or against it but not

you’re for or against it but not necessarily for and certainly not

necessarily for and certainly not

necessarily for and certainly not against it because if healthcare was

against it because if healthcare was

against it because if healthcare was like technology and had regular updates

like technology and had regular updates

like technology and had regular updates would you click ignore or accept

would you click ignore or accept

would you click ignore or accept download I would accept

”

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