Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

-Metacelsus- t1_iy34e5r wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in How exactly does CRISPR-CAS9 insert new genes? by AutomaticAd1918

> What I don’t understand is how this would work for an entire body?

Your understanding is correct, because it doesn't work for an entire body, the efficiency per cell is not nearly good enough. If you want a full-body edit you would have to edit stem cells, select the edited cells you want, and then use various embryology techniques to put the stem cells in an embryo and have them develop into a new organism.

2

[deleted] t1_iy34o2b wrote

[deleted]

1

CrateDane t1_iy50gdd wrote

Depends on the gene defect; if it's enough to edit 3% of your liver cells to produce an important protein to circulate in your blood, then it's pretty reasonable to expect to cure that disease with (non-germline) CRISPR/Cas.

If it's something that needs to be fixed in 100% of a certain cell type, especially non-proliferating cells, then that's going to be very tough. And if it's something that acts during development, then fixing the DNA in an adult would do nothing (the body has already been "built" with the wrong "blueprint").

2