Jan 20, 2017 01:38 PM EST By Natalie Scott, UniversityHerald Reporter

Gene editing is one of the newly discovered methods in science that can contribute to the treatment of cancer patients. The CRISPR Cas-9 was tested in China to 18 cancer patients but results showed that it more likely a therapeutic method than a scientific tool. With inaccurate editing posing as a risk, how do gene editing alter human according to studies? See full details here!

How CRISPR Gene Editing Works?

The first clinical trial for CRISPR gene editing for humans was done in China to 18 cancer patients. According to Chemistry World, the process involves editing the T-cells of the patients to eliminate the protein that stops the immune responses and eventually put it back and this is usually done in simultaneous with chemotherapy.

The process has been done successfully in China, however, some of the scientists who tried to replicate the process in their own laboratory have reportedly failed. This is despite having done some group visiting Hebei University of Science and Technology in China the group of researchers led by Han Chunyu conducted clinical studies.

Study Says Gene Editing Can Alter Human Evolution

Editing human embryo is said to be the most controversial part of CRISPR gene editing because the changes are expected to affect not only the embryo itself but also to the offspring. Although it's a fact that various genetic variants found in the entire genome contributes to birth defects such as autism, personality traits, psychiatric traits and intelligence, but risky genes are said to also have good in them, according to Time.

The fear for conducting genome editing in human embryo starts in 2015 when the said process has reportedly conducted in unviable embryo. For this reason, group of scientists insist that it is irresponsible for a person to conduct gene editing outside societal concensus moreover putting aside the safety of the subject and the efficacy of the issues involved in the process. 

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