TeachableMedicalNews article 12082020
Teachable moment in classrooms:
- cellular basis of life chapter – chromosomes contain many genes
- cellular basis of life chapter – a gene is a specific stretch of DNA that encodes one protein
- cellular basis of life chapter – concept of gene mutation leading to protein
malfunction
- immune system chapter – function of T lymphocytes (T cells)
The news item: Recently the gene editing approach to cancer fighting was in the news:
Doctors try CRISPR gene editing for cancer, a 1st in the US
The first attempt in the U.S. to use the gene editing tool CRISPR against cancer seems safe, but it’s too soon to know if it will improve survival.
The report described an experimental treatment of one sarcoma patient and two multiple myeloma patients with the Crispr technology. The article states that this approach deletes 3 genes and adds one gene to the T cells of the patients, and the gene-edited T cells are infused back into the body of the patients.
So, Why Do I Care??
The thing to care about is the potential of the technology of gene editing. While experimental in humans, and the targets of the technology are relatively rare diseases, if proven useful there are many human genetic disorders that may be managed or cured by it. Any disorder that is caused by mutated genes and malfunctioning proteins may be the future target of gene editing.
Plain English, Please!!!
First, let’s talk about multiple myeloma and sarcoma. Myeloma is a cancer that forms in the red bone marrow. Sarcoma is a cancer that starts from connective