He Down syndrome Related with Chromosome 21 TrisomyA field that is, instead of having two chromosomes of this type in their cells, like everyone else, patients have 3, with an error that was made in cell division, or when the eggs are formed and sperm, or at the beginning Embryonic development There is no medicine or treatment of Down syndrome. Nevertheless, the team of Japanese scientists has just used the CRISPR-CAS9 technique, consisting of a kind Molecular pepper peppers, To cut this excess chromosome in cells and return the game of chromosomes to normal.
They did not do this in patients. Not in laboratory animals. The study was conducted with Cell cultures Nevertheless, they showed that, indeed, CRISPR can be used to reduce the chromosome that remains in a certain way without affecting others.
Technique Cripsr-Cas9 It is so useful that the Nobel Prize for Chemistry earned its two discovers, Jennifer Dudna and Emmanuel Charpentierin 2020. However, and, despite the useful one, which already leads to other branches, such as plant biotechnology, medicine still needs much more control in order to be able to fulfill. It is necessary that everything controls before editing animal cells, including people. Despite this, thanks to such studies, we see that in the future this technique may be behind some of the greatest achievements of science. Because the ending syndrome down will undoubtedly be Milestone, who will go down in history.
What is Cripsr-Cas9?
CRISPR-CAS9 technique is based on a mechanism, which for some bacteria for virus It infects them. In fact, it consists of a series of repeated sequences of bacterial DNA, which do not encode anything. They have no instructions for the manufacture of some component of bacteria. However, other sequences surround the viruses that attack bacteria, and next to them are other sequences that codify the protein called Cash register This is in order to cut DNA. Therefore, when the genetic material of the viruses is detected, complementary DNA, which consists in repeated sequences, it starts between them, and CAS protein is launched, reducing what it finds below.
Thus, the CRISPR system is specially attached to the DNA of viruses trying to invade bacteria and This cuts it to reduce the invasion.
This mechanism was discovered by the Spaniard: Francis MokhikaA field later, Dudna and Charpentier found a way to use it as a tool for genetic engineering.
Basically, where bacteria include DNA of viruses that attack them, you can place an additional sequence in any piece of DNA that you want Eliminate or changeThe field in such a way as soon as it is detected, cut out and removed. This is usually done to eliminate mutated genes or what to encode undesirable. For example, it was used to eliminate General responsible for mushrooms to get black So fast.
In people, he began to study for the treatment of numerous diseases. But if in addition to the mutated gene, could you also remove the full chromosome? If so, then many diseases caused Trisomy, Like Down syndrome.
Molecular scissors against Down syndrome
The authors have just been published Two cell cultures. One was formed Pluripotent stem cells. These are cells that are mainly in embryos and have not yet been developed in any particular type of cell. According to the signs that they receive, they can lead to a skin category than one of the lungs. In their case, they did not use stem cells extracted from embryos, but with Induced pluripotence. This is achieved by taking cells that are already differentiated and incubation to specific conditions, violating them so that They are pluripotent again.
The second cultivation of the cells that these scientists took was formed only Fibroblasts That is, cells that already specialize in the formation of connective tissue, such as ligaments or tendons.
In both cases, there were cells in which trisomy of chromosome 21 was induced, such as the one that leads to Down syndrome. It is important to consider something. All people have 23 pairs of chromosomes. This indicates that there are 23 different types of chromosomes, and that we get two from each of them: One paternal and another maternal. Therefore, when eliminating an additional chromosome, you must be careful so that the one who retires is one of the repeated ones. That is, if the one who duplicates is the paternal line will be two paternal and one maternal, so the maternal line should never be eliminated. This was the main task of this study. CRISPR-CAS9 sequences can be planned to detect chromosome 21 and exclude it, but you should have known what to eliminate. And they succeeded.
These scientists have found a way to find what a duplicate chromosome is, and thus direct scissors In particular, one of them. When they checked equipment in two cell cultures, they managed to eliminate Just a suitable chromosome in both cases.
When could it be used?
Down syndrome is found quite soon During pregnancy. Thus, the authors of this study believe that in the future their technique can be used directly at a time when it is diagnosed. Before the birth of a child. Very soon it will use the equipment in people, but they look at it with optimism. And this is that genetic engineering is real, but also the future. If you offer us a fascinating gift, the future that awaits us, if possible, is even better. All thanks to the protective mechanism of several bacteria.
Source: Hiper Textual
