Subscriber Mel81x+ Posted November 23, 2018 Subscriber Share Posted November 23, 2018 21 hours ago, nudge said: I finally decided to bite the bullet and bought some stock in three biotech companies that specialise in CRISPR... if this works out, the drinks are on me. In like 15 years maybe You should take some money now and ask someone to age a bottle for you on the off-chance you actually make money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted November 24, 2018 Author Subscriber Share Posted November 24, 2018 17 hours ago, Mel81x said: You should take some money now and ask someone to age a bottle for you on the off-chance you actually make money High risk, high volatility; I know it's a complete gamble hehe. I just been following it for a long time and have a good feeling about this; at those stock prices it's well worth a bet anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted November 27, 2018 Author Subscriber Share Posted November 27, 2018 A Chinese researcher has just reported the birth of world's first genetically modified babies (twin girls whose embryo DNA had been edited with the use of CRISPR to prevent HIV infection); a dubious an unverified claim at this point as China launches investigation amid a global outrage, but this will be huge if it can be verified; and there are some very interesting clinical trials documents published online that appear to support the claim that Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen has been recruiting couples in 2017 in an effort to create the first gene-edited babies by eliminating a gene called CCR5 in hopes of rendering the offspring resistant to HIV, smallpox, and cholera. This has started a huge shitstorm in China now, as there are reports that the approval of the ethics committee has been faked in order to run the experiment, and all institutions are denying their involvement. More infos: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612458/exclusive-chinese-scientists-are-creating-crispr-babies/ This might be a big bluff (very likely), but if it's not, then it's going to be HUGE. @Mel81x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber Mel81x+ Posted November 27, 2018 Subscriber Share Posted November 27, 2018 54 minutes ago, nudge said: A Chinese researcher has just reported the birth of world's first genetically modified babies (twin girls whose embryo DNA had been edited with the use of CRISPR to prevent HIV infection); a dubious an unverified claim at this point as China launches investigation amid a global outrage, but this will be huge if it can be verified; and there are some very interesting clinical trials documents published online that appear to support the claim that Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen has been recruiting couples in 2017 in an effort to create the first gene-edited babies by eliminating a gene called CCR5 in hopes of rendering the offspring resistant to HIV, smallpox, and cholera. This has started a huge shitstorm in China now, as there are reports that the approval of the ethics committee has been faked in order to run the experiment, and all institutions are denying their involvement. More infos: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612458/exclusive-chinese-scientists-are-creating-crispr-babies/ This might be a big bluff (very likely), but if it's not, then it's going to be HUGE. @Mel81x The one thing I am 100% sure I can't call a bluff on is the fact that there is no ethics committee of any fucking kind in China when it comes to this kind of experimentation. I'd be embracing this as a nation and telling everyone else to take their ethics and shove it because they've just made one of the biggest if not the biggest leap we will see in our lifetimes with genetic engineering. An embryo with natural resistance to existing diseases (whatever form they are in) is a huge step for science and if it is proven true I am willing to even bet on the fact that a lot of geneticists will be making their way to the far-east for work rather than stay in the caged cells they have right now due to the human rights. This is not to say of course that we don't need some curtailing of the process but if its to do what they are doing in Asia right now then I'd be in favor of them continuing their work and even finding proper cures to these diseases with further genetic research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted November 27, 2018 Author Subscriber Share Posted November 27, 2018 10 minutes ago, Mel81x said: The one thing I am 100% sure I can't call a bluff on is the fact that there is ethics committee of any fucking kind in China when it comes to this kind of experimentation. I'd be embracing this as a nation and telling everyone else to take their ethics and shove it because they've just made one of the biggest if not the biggest leap we will see in our lifetimes with genetic engineering. An embryo with natural resistance to existing diseases (whatever form they are in) is a huge step for science and if it is proven true I am willing to even bet on the fact that a lot of geneticists will be making their way to the far-east for work rather than stay in the caged cells they have right now due to the human rights. This is not to say of course that we don't need some curtailing of the process but if its to do what they are doing in Asia right now then I'd be in favor of them continuing their work and even finding proper cures to these diseases with further genetic research. I think the denials and reports of "fake" approvals are just the reaction to the public outcry it caused; as you said, China normally has no qualms with stuff like this and see ethical concerns as a hurdle to taking the lead in an area of such importance. It does open Pandora's box though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber Mel81x+ Posted November 27, 2018 Subscriber Share Posted November 27, 2018 4 hours ago, nudge said: I think the denials and reports of "fake" approvals are just the reaction to the public outcry it caused; as you said, China normally has no qualms with stuff like this and see ethical concerns as a hurdle to taking the lead in an area of such importance. It does open Pandora's box though... Well it depends on how you really see Pandora's box. On one side you've got genuine concern, now we're talking about playing god with cell properties at the lexical level because realistically all this 'good' science really does eventually bleed itself into more dangerous escapades. On the other side of the coin you've got such fantastic application and i'd like to see the day this can be applied to an existing cell structure to see the effects it has on a biological entity that already has all the flaws (if we're calling it that) for disease propagation already in place. I can see so many people reading what the Chinese are doing and thinking of loved ones or patients in their care who may one day not have to deal with the diseases that have put them in situations they are in. Sadly, we all know that once this finds its way into common medical practice in certain countries the fiscal reward for introducing this kind of therapy into someone will be so sky high that people will rather just die than get the treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber Mel81x+ Posted November 27, 2018 Subscriber Share Posted November 27, 2018 https://news.berkeley.edu/2018/11/26/doudna-responds-to-claim-of-first-crispr-edited-babies/ That didn't take too long @nudge I mean lets be honest why does it need a peer review for application purposes irrespective of the application? There's a great reddit discussion on it too. https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/a0vy2o/update_crispr_coinventor_responds_to_claim_of/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machado Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Cheating evolution... how dare you humans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cicero Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Will it work for @Cannabis? He's always wanted a larger wang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber Mel81x+ Posted November 27, 2018 Subscriber Share Posted November 27, 2018 30 minutes ago, Cicero said: Will it work for @Cannabis? He's always wanted a larger wang Im afraid right now it only eliminates things but I suppose if you're looking for that kind of thing then sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted November 27, 2018 Author Subscriber Share Posted November 27, 2018 41 minutes ago, Mel81x said: https://news.berkeley.edu/2018/11/26/doudna-responds-to-claim-of-first-crispr-edited-babies/ That didn't take too long @nudge I mean lets be honest why does it need a peer review for application purposes irrespective of the application? There's a great reddit discussion on it too. https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/a0vy2o/update_crispr_coinventor_responds_to_claim_of/ I'll reply tomorrow as it's late and I barely had any sleep last three nights. But just wanted to agree that peer review is a deeply flawed and politicised process where reputations and names and connections matter much more than actual science behind the research. Just one of the reasons why I decided against continuing; academia and the whole system around it is rotten to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted November 28, 2018 Author Subscriber Share Posted November 28, 2018 16 hours ago, Mel81x said: https://news.berkeley.edu/2018/11/26/doudna-responds-to-claim-of-first-crispr-edited-babies/ That didn't take too long @nudge I mean lets be honest why does it need a peer review for application purposes irrespective of the application? There's a great reddit discussion on it too. https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/a0vy2o/update_crispr_coinventor_responds_to_claim_of/ Cheers, that was a good read (the reddit discusion). While I think that in a long run it (germline editing) is good for humanity, I also do understand that it is potentially dangerous and could open the door for bigger (both societal and medical) issues. However, it annoys me that the biggest reason for the global outrage of scientific community is seemingly the fact that someone dared to run the experiment in secret without consulting his global peers first. It's like they are not worried about potential ramifications of the trials whatsoever (which would be understandable) but are rather upset about their smug egos being hurt I'm also not surprised that it's Doudna who is so obsessed with peer review; after all, that's what made her so well-known despite the fact that it's actually my compatriot scientist Virginijus Šikšnys who independently developed the technology before Doudna/Charpentier and their team, yet his submitted research paper was first rejected without even sending it out for peer review and then delayed for over five months, while Doudna's research was fast-tracked for publication ahead of him despite being submitted at least two months after Šikšnys' work. That doesn't mean Doudna/Charpentier (or Zhang group for that matter) don't deserve credit and accolades that they're getting; of course they do as all of them developed it independently and contributed to it in different ways - but it just sums up my previous point of how politicised it all is and how hard it can be to get stuff done and be credited for your work if you don't have a strong lobby in the scientific community. That said, going back to the latest developments - the Chinese researcher behind the experiment revealed today that he has now submitted the details of the trial to a scientific journal so it can be subject to peer review after all. He also said that there is another pregnancy with an edited embryo but it's at an early stage yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber Mel81x+ Posted November 28, 2018 Subscriber Share Posted November 28, 2018 5 hours ago, nudge said: Cheers, that was a good read (the reddit discusion). While I think that in a long run it (germline editing) is good for humanity, I also do understand that it is potentially dangerous and could open the door for bigger (both societal and medical) issues. However, it annoys me that the biggest reason for the global outrage of scientific community is seemingly the fact that someone dared to run the experiment in secret without consulting his global peers first. It's like they are not worried about potential ramifications of the trials whatsoever (which would be understandable) but are rather upset about their smug egos being hurt I'm also not surprised that it's Doudna who is so obsessed with peer review; after all, that's what made her so well-known despite the fact that it's actually my compatriot scientist Virginijus Šikšnys who independently developed the technology before Doudna/Charpentier and their team, yet his submitted research paper was first rejected without even sending it out for peer review and then delayed for over five months, while Doudna's research was fast-tracked for publication ahead of him despite being submitted at least two months after Šikšnys' work. That doesn't mean Doudna/Charpentier (or Zhang group for that matter) don't deserve credit and accolades that they're getting; of course they do as all of them developed it independently and contributed to it in different ways - but it just sums up my previous point of how politicised it all is and how hard it can be to get stuff done and be credited for your work if you don't have a strong lobby in the scientific community. That said, going back to the latest developments - the Chinese researcher behind the experiment revealed today that he has now submitted the details of the trial to a scientific journal so it can be subject to peer review after all. He also said that there is another pregnancy with an edited embryo but it's at an early stage yet. I think you've touched on a very important point here regarding peer reviews and that is the fact that its more ego stroking than anything else. I don't necessarily find what the Chinese did wrong and I don't even get why they are bothering to play the review game either it Science after all, its meant to push boundaries and bring to light things that are meant to further us as a species. Having said that I am pro controlled systems and environments primarily for safety. Back on topic, its interesting that they went ahead and said there was another embryo as well which was in the early stages. Wonder what they did there and the next thing its going to show the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted November 28, 2018 Author Subscriber Share Posted November 28, 2018 3 minutes ago, Mel81x said: I think you've touched on a very important point here regarding peer reviews and that is the fact that its more ego stroking than anything else. I don't necessarily find what the Chinese did wrong and I don't even get why they are bothering to play the review game either it Science after all, its meant to push boundaries and bring to light things that are meant to further us as a species. Having said that I am pro controlled systems and environments primarily for safety. Back on topic, its interesting that they went ahead and said there was another embryo as well which was in the early stages. Wonder what they did there and the next thing its going to show the world. The second embryo is from the same trials so likely the same gene (CCR5). Jiankui He presented his work at the genome editing conference last night. You might be interested in the data slides: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1T1zLTtHS2z_cgl29fN_7qJg7fLA4qlrd And here's the transcript of his presentation: https://diyhpl.us/wiki/transcripts/human-genome-editing-summit/2018-hong-kong/jiankui-he-human-genome-editing/ The whole video here: https://livestream.com/NASEM/events/8464254/videos/184103056 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted December 14, 2018 Author Subscriber Share Posted December 14, 2018 Scientists crack the CRISPR code for precise human genome editing https://phys.org/news/2018-12-scientists-crispr-code-precise-human.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Hewitt Posted December 15, 2018 Share Posted December 15, 2018 22 hours ago, nudge said: Scientists crack the CRISPR code for precise human genome editing https://phys.org/news/2018-12-scientists-crispr-code-precise-human.html Oh shit, it really looks like Solid Snake may be born. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber Mel81x+ Posted April 9, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted April 9, 2019 https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/03/11/1750952/0/en/ASLAN-Pharmaceuticals-Signs-New-Agreement-With-Biogenetics-for-Commercialisation-of-ASLAN003-in-South-Korea.html @nudge thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted April 9, 2019 Author Subscriber Share Posted April 9, 2019 32 minutes ago, Mel81x said: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/03/11/1750952/0/en/ASLAN-Pharmaceuticals-Signs-New-Agreement-With-Biogenetics-for-Commercialisation-of-ASLAN003-in-South-Korea.html @nudge thoughts? Not exactly my area of expertise I'm afraid... So it seems this ASLAN003 works through blocking DHODH enzyme and inducing the p53 tumour supressor? Interesting. I'm only familiar with DHODH inhibitors from the research in multiple sclerosis and the mechanism of action there is basically blocking DHODH which leads to reducing pro-inflammatory factors by altering the metabolism in activated T cells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted April 11, 2019 Author Subscriber Share Posted April 11, 2019 Chinese scientists have put human brain genes in monkeys—and yes, they may be smarter. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613277/chinese-scientists-have-put-human-brain-genes-in-monkeysand-yes-they-may-be-smarter/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber Mel81x+ Posted April 11, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted April 11, 2019 1 hour ago, nudge said: Chinese scientists have put human brain genes in monkeys—and yes, they may be smarter. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613277/chinese-scientists-have-put-human-brain-genes-in-monkeysand-yes-they-may-be-smarter/ Fascinating stuff. I suppose the testing is easier considering how close we are genetically to primates anyways. The real question now is what they can do with the reverse engineering of this with attributes like physical prowess, etc. Also, these scientist have definitely not watched Planet of the Apes but who can blame them when its banned in their country. https://www.vulture.com/2017/03/power-rangers-beauty-and-the-beast-weirdest-reasons-movies-censored.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted April 11, 2019 Author Subscriber Share Posted April 11, 2019 6 minutes ago, Mel81x said: Fascinating stuff. I suppose the testing is easier considering how close we are genetically to primates anyways. The real question now is what they can do with the reverse engineering of this with attributes like physical prowess, etc. Also, these scientist have definitely not watched Planet of the Apes but who can blame them when its banned in their country. https://www.vulture.com/2017/03/power-rangers-beauty-and-the-beast-weirdest-reasons-movies-censored.html It seems they actually tried it 50 years ago already... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber Mel81x+ Posted June 6, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted June 6, 2019 https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/06/people-with-hiv-protective-mutation-have-shortened-life-expectancy/ Considering someone called it out at the start of the whole push forward I am not surprised it has shown issues. But, the good news is that someone has tried and they can now make it better. @nudge just tagging you since I know you read up on this stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted June 6, 2019 Author Subscriber Share Posted June 6, 2019 40 minutes ago, Mel81x said: https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/06/people-with-hiv-protective-mutation-have-shortened-life-expectancy/ Considering someone called it out at the start of the whole push forward I am not surprised it has shown issues. But, the good news is that someone has tried and they can now make it better. @nudge just tagging you since I know you read up on this stuff. Saw the article earlier today but only read the headline so far. Will properly read on it once I'm recovered from the trip... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ Posted August 1, 2019 Author Subscriber Share Posted August 1, 2019 Japan approves first human-animal embryo experiments. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02275-3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber CaaC (John)+ Posted August 1, 2019 Subscriber Share Posted August 1, 2019 4 minutes ago, nudge said: Japan approves first human-animal embryo experiments. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02275-3 Bloody creepy reading that, not sure if I like the idea or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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