Researchers from the Mie University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan have developed a method to “remove” the extra chromosome in Down syndrome through gene editing. Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, they were able to eliminate the extra copy of the chromosome in cell lines derived from pluripotent stem cells and skin fibroblasts.
The method normalizes the expression of genes disrupted by the extra chromosome, which is the key cause of Down syndrome. Experiments showed successful removal of the extra chromosome, but researchers note that the technology is still far from practical application due to the risk of damaging other chromosomes when using CRISPR-Cas9.
Scientists emphasize that the current version of the method requires further refinement to improve safety. They hope that future research will lead to the development of a reliable and safe approach that can eventually be used in clinical practice to treat Down syndrome.
#space #science #educational #technology
