CRISPR-based COVID-19 tests could work in just 5 minutes

Home Kit

Ultrasensitive COVID-19 tests based on the popular gene-editing technique CRISPR could be just around the corner, as IEEE Spectrum reports.

CRISPR-Based COVID-19 Tests Could Work in Just 5 Minutes

READ MORE: <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/diagnostics/step-aside-pcr-crispr-based-covid-19-tests-are-coming">Step Aside, PCR: CRISPR-based COVID-19 Tests Are Coming</a> [IEEE Spectrum]

More on COVID-19 tests: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/us-half-million-covid-shots">The US Has Already Given a Half Million COVID Shots</a>

Devices

All you need is an at-home kit and a smartphone app.

There's probably a wide gap between trying to create supersoldiers and actually succeeding.

US official claims China is testing biologically enhanced supersoldiers

Genetic Enhancements

John Ratcliffe, the U.S. national intelligence cirector, wrote in an op-ed that China experimented on military members to try and create supersoldiers.

US Official Claims China Is Testing Biologically Enhanced Supersoldiers

"U.S. intelligence shows that China has even conducted human testing on members of the People’s Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities."

The experiments were deemed "an open secret" at the university where Chinese scientist He Jiankui conducted his experiments, according to this author.

Communist Party secretly supported Chinese gene-edited babies, according to new book

Open Secrets

According to a new book, Chinese scientist He Jiankui had the support of several Communist Party officials while working on his gene-editing experiments.

Communist Party Secretly Supported Chinese Gene-Edited Babies, According to New Book

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-mutant-project-review-an-unsettling-visit-to-the-future-11605653425">‘The Mutant Project’ Review: An Unsettling Visit to the Future</a> [The Wall Street Journal]

More on He: <a href="https://futurism.com/crispr-baby-prevent-hiv-flawed">CRISPR Baby Experiment Meant to Prevent HIV Might Not Even Work</a>

Genetics

The Chinese government later distanced itself from the controversial experiments.

CRISPR does not appear to work well on human genetic code.

A gene-editing experiment on human embryos went horribly wrong

We're Not Ready

A team of London-based scientists used the popular gene-editing technique CRISPR to genetically modify human embryos — but the results were not good.

A Gene-Editing Experiment on Human Embryos Went Horribly Wrong

READ MORE: <a href="https://onezero.medium.com/scientists-edited-human-embryos-in-the-lab-and-it-was-a-disaster-9473918d769d">Scientists Edited Human Embryos in the Lab, and It Was a Disaster</a> [OneZero]

More on human embryos: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/experts-horrified-leaked-crispr-baby-study">Experts Horrified by Leaked CRISPR Baby Study</a>

The disastrous results are a warning to "stay the living daylights away from embryo editing," an expert says.

"We think it could open up a whole new set of medicines to go in and change your DNA."

CRISPR scientists hack patient's genes in bid to cure blindness

On Switch

Scientists just took their first stab at curing a genetic condition that causes blindness early in life through CRISPR gene-hacking.

CRISPR Scientists Hack Patient’s Genes in Bid to Cure Blindness

READ MORE: <a href="https://apnews.com/17fcd6ae57d39d06b72ca40fe7cee461">Doctors try 1st CRISPR editing in the body for blindness</a> [The Associated Press]

More on CRISPR: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/human-gene-editing-trial-crispr-treat-blindness">This Human Gene Editing Trial Will Use CRISPR to Treat Blindness</a>

"We literally have the potential to take people who are essentially blind and make them see."

Gene editing could supercharge the human immune system.

Human trial suggests CRISPR could be a viable cancer treatment

Safe Bet

Scientists just published the results of the United States first trial of CRISPR-edited cells in cancer patients — and they're very encouraging.

Human Trial Suggests CRISPR Could Be a Viable Cancer Treatment

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2232722-crispr-cancer-trial-finds-that-gene-edited-immune-cells-are-safe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CRISPR cancer trial finds that gene-edited immune cells are safe</a> [New Scientist]

More on the study: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/study-crispr-fight-cancer-promising" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First U.S. Study to Use CRISPR to Fight Cancer &#8220;Very Promising&#8221;</a>

Cancer

This could be great news for experimental cancer treatments.

But it still hasn't released any details about the infant.

China quietly confirms birth of third gene-edited baby

Special Delivery

Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua has confirmed that a third gene-edited baby has been born as part of researcher He Jiankui's controversial experiment.

China Quietly Confirms Birth of Third Gene-Edited Baby

READ MORE: <a href="http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/30/c_138667350.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China Focus: Three jailed in China&#8217;s &#8220;gene-edited babies&#8221; trial</a> [Xinhua]

More on He Jiankui: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/china-imprisoning-he-jiankui-gene-edited-babies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">China Is Imprisoning the Scientist Who Gene-Edited Babies</a>

He Jiankui is headed to prison for creating three — not two — gene-edited babies.

It's only a preliminary step before such a treatment could be used in human trials.

First U.S. study to use CRISPR to fight cancer "very promising"

CRISPR Cancer

Researchers say they've determined a new cancer treatment that uses CRISPR to gene edit cells is safe and could be effective.

First U.S. Study to Use CRISPR to Fight Cancer “Very Promising”

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/11/06/776169331/crispr-approach-to-fighting-cancer-called-promising-in-1st-safety-test">CRISPR Approach To Fighting Cancer Called &#8216;Promising&#8217; In 1st Safety Test</a> [NPR]

More on CRISPR: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/man-doctors-crispr">Sick Man Begs Doctors: Please CRISPR Me</a>

"It really just opens up a whole world of this type of manipulation of cells.”

"If I die of melanoma, it won't help anyone. If I die because of an experimental treatment, it will at least help science."

Sick man begs doctors: please CRISPR me

Genetic Lifehack

Malakkar Vohryzek is trying to find scientists willing to use CRISPR to gene-hack away his extreme sensitivity to sunlight in hopes of avoiding skin cancer.

Sick Man Begs Doctors: Please CRISPR Me

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2019/09/25/plea-to-scientists-crispr-me/">&#8216;I just want to live&#8217;: California man pleads with scientists around the world to ‘CRISPR me’</a> [STAT News]

More on CRISPR: <a href="https://futurism.com/crispr-protein-casx-gene-editing">Tiny New CRISPR Protein Could Make Human Gene-Hacking Less Risky</a>

"I just want to live."

"It is the unanticipated outcome that is concerning."

Gene-hacking mosquitoes to be infertile backfired spectacularly

Unforeseen Consequences

When scientists released gene-hacked mosquitoes into the wild population in Jacobino, Brazil, they thought it would quell the bugs. They had no such luck.

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