The use of AI in gene editing is a relatively new concept, but it has the potential to revolutionize the field.
The article highlights a recent experiment where three people were gene-edited in an effort to cure their HIV. The results of this experiment are still unknown. The gene-editing technology CRISPR was used to change the genes of these individuals, with the aim of permanently curing them of HIV. This was done by a biotechnology company called Excision BioTherapeutics, which aims to cure HIV infection with a single intravenous dose of a gene-editing drug.
The article also mentions the first-ever approval of a CRISPR-based medicine, Casgevy, a cure for sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT). This approval marked a major win for genome editing as a clinical tool.
However, the enthusiasm in the field still has to face some significant real-world hurdles. Market forces have reduced venture capital investment in biotechnology, leading to layoffs in a number of CRISPR-focused companies and a narrowing of focus on their furthest developed products.
Despite these challenges, the potential of combining AI and CRISPR for gene editing is immense. It opens up possibilities for curing genetic diseases and improving human health in ways that were previously unimaginable. However, the ethical and practical implications of this technology are still being explored.
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