DNA ‘edited’ to cure liver disease and could be used for Down’s Syndrome

Named Crispr, technique can correct a single letter of the genetic alphabet It does this by using enzymes to target specific parts of the DNA database It could treat disorders like sickle-cell anaemia and Huntingtons disease Crispr might also be used to correct gene defects in human IVF embryos, allowing disorders to be ironed out before a baby is born

By Ellie Zolfagharifard

Published: 04:43 EST, 22 April 2014 | Updated: 02:49 EST, 23 April 2014

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Genetic liver disease has been cured in living, adult mice for first time using a jaw-dropping genome-editing technique that could soon be used on humans.

The technique, named Crispr, can make tiny changes to the huge database of the DNA molecule with what scientists describe as 'pinpoint' accuracy.

Crispr pronounced crisper- was used to correct a single letter of the mices' genetic alphabet which had been mutated in the gene associated in liver metabolism.

The technique, named Crispr, can make tiny changes to the huge database of the DNA molecule with what scientists describe as 'pinpoint' accuracy

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DNA 'edited' to cure liver disease and could be used for Down's Syndrome