<h2>Swipe Left</h2>
About <a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living-pictures/little-known-facts-about-lefthanders.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 percent</a> of people are left-handed, but among great pond snails, lefties are even rarer — only <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/how-a-snails-shell-gets-its-twist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two percent</a> are born with shells that are left-coiling, spiraling counter-clockwise from their smallest point.
In 2016, a Japanese scientist posited that a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep34809" target="_blank" rel="noopener">single gene</a> controlled whether a snail would be right- or left-handed. Now, she and her team have seemingly proved that the theory is correct by using <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/google-use-crispr-cure-heart-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CRISPR</a> to create lefty snails — a discovery that could one day help unravel the mysteries of human biology.
<h2>Shell Game</h2>
In a <a href="http://dev.biologists.org/content/146/9/dev175976" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> published Tuesday in the journal Development, Chubu University researcher Reiko Kuroda and colleagues detail their use of the CRISPR gene-editing tool to knock out the Lsdia1 gene in snails to see if it would cause the creatures to hatch with the rare left-coiling shells.
The results supported Kuroda&#8217;s theory. The snail eggs the team injected with CRISPR instructed to remove Lsdia1 developed into the uncommon left-handed snails. Furthermore, the CRISPR snails produced generation after generation of snails that were mirror images of the common right-handed snails.
<h2>Put Right</h2>
Now that the researchers have confirmed that the Lsdia1 gene plays an integral role in a snail&#8217;s right- or left-handedness, they suggest <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-05/tcob-hts050819.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a press release</a> that it would be worthwhile to explore how similar genes in humans affect our own asymmetry.
Eventually, such studies could help us better understand why some humans are born with rare conditions, such as having their hearts on the <a href="https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/dextrocardia-with-situs-inversus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">right side of their chests</a> instead of the left.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/how-a-snails-shell-gets-its-twist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How a snail’s shell gets its twist</a> [PBS]
More on CRISPR: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/google-use-crispr-cure-heart-disease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google Backs Plan to Use CRISPR to Cure Heart Disease</a>

And it could help us unravel some of the mysteries of human biology.

Scientists used CRISPR to make mirror-image snails

Snail Tale

A team of researchers has created CRISPR snails with shells that coil counterclockwise — a trait that is extremely rare in nature.

Scientists Used CRISPR to Make Mirror-Image Snails

Their edits produced generation after generation of mirror-image snails.

<h2>Human Guinea Pigs</h2>
In November, Chinese scientist He Jiankui <a href="https://futurism.com/chinese-researchers-gene-edited-human-embryos-hiv-crispr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that he&#8217;d genetically edited a human embryo that was implanted into a woman who then gave birth to twin girls, making them the world&#8217;s first gene-edited humans.
Almost immediately, the scientific community derided the experiment as <a href="https://futurism.com/scientists-condemn-crispr-baby-experiment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unethical and risky</a>. And now, two geneticists are levying <a href="https://gizmodo.com/substandard-superficial-and-absurd-experts-slam-the-1834417285" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another criticism</a> at the man behind it, saying he demonstrated &#8220;a troubling lack&#8230; of the requisite understanding of genetics and gene editing&#8221; — meaning the twin girls might not even benefit from the risky procedure.
<h2>Substandard Science</h2>
He claims he used CRISPR to disable CCR5, a gene used by HIV to infect human cells, in the embryo to prevent the twins from inheriting the virus from their HIV-positive father.
But in an <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000224" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> published in the journal PLOS Biology&#8217;s &#8220;Perspectives&#8221; section on Tuesday, Chinese Academy of Sciences geneticists Wang Haoyi and Yang Hui argue that the parents could have accomplished the same thing through established assisted reproductive technologies — meaning He&#8217;s rationale for the procedure was, well, irrational.
The duo also criticized He&#8217;s methodology, calling the way he used CCR5 knock out mice to determine if his experiment would &#8220;cause undesirable genetic, physiological, or behavioral consequences&#8221; in humans &#8220;absurd.&#8221;
&#8220;The quality of the science is very poor and superficial,&#8221; they wrote, later noting that He&#8217;s efforts to assess the mutations that his CRISPR editing might cause also demonstrated &#8220;substandard&#8221; science.
He displayed a subpar scientific understanding of how a CCR5 knock out might affect Chinese individuals differently than others, too, according to the duo — as well as how silencing CCR5 doesn&#8217;t protect against all strains of HIV.
<h2>Extremely Irresponsible</h2>
Even if He&#8217;s experiment had demonstrated impeccable science and served a legitimate purpose, though, his ethical transgressions would still be appalling — a point not lost on Wang and Yang, who wrote that they were &#8220;enraged by [He&#8217;s] extremely irresponsible misconduct, which clearly violated the regulatory and medical ethics of China and nations all over the world.&#8221;
However, they don&#8217;t go so far as to condemn the possible future use of gene-editing in humans following adequate development of the technologies and the creation of strict international laws on their usage.
&#8220;These improved technologies may provide solutions for genetic diseases,&#8221; wrote the duo, &#8220;but only when consensus has been met and a regulatory framework has been put in place for treating specific medical implications.&#8221;
READ MORE: <a href="https://gizmodo.com/substandard-superficial-and-absurd-experts-slam-the-1834417285" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Substandard, Superficial, and Absurd: Experts Slam the Science Behind the CRISPR Baby Experiment</a> [Gizmodo]
More on He: <a href="https://futurism.com/chinese-researchers-gene-edited-human-embryos-hiv-crispr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese Scientists Claim to Have Gene-Edited Human Babies for the First Time</a>

"The quality of the science is very poor and superficial," say geneticists.

CRISPR baby experiment meant to prevent HIV might not even work

Pointless Procedure

Two geneticists are criticizing He Jiankui's use of CRISPR to edit human embryos on the grounds that it was an example of deeply flawed science.

CRISPR Baby Experiment Meant to Prevent HIV Might Not Even Work

The scientist behind the project doesn't appear to fully understand gene editing.

<h2>Human-Monkey Hybrid</h2>
In March, a team of Chinese scientists published a study detailing how they made monkeys smarter by <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/chinese-scientists-super-monkeys-human-brain-genes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">splicing a human gene</a> into their DNA.
The news was met by a <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/4/12/18306867/china-genetics-monkey-brain-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wave of backlash</a>. But now, one of the scientists behind the study is <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/12/asia/monkey-brain-human-china-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defending the team&#8217;s work</a> — and pledging to push forward on the controversial research.
<h2>Above Board</h2>
Chinese Academy of Sciences professor Su Bing <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/12/asia/monkey-brain-human-china-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told CNN</a> that the university&#8217;s ethics board approved the plan to give monkeys human genes.
Furthermore, the study followed best scientific practices laid out by both China and the international scientific community and met international animal rights standards, according to Su.
<h2>Beneficial Studies</h2>
The scientist also laid out what he sees as the potential benefits of the research for CNN, as well as his intentions to pursue similar research in the future.
&#8220;In the long run, such basic research will also provide valuable information for the analysis of the etiology and treatment of human brain diseases (such as autism) caused by abnormal brain development,&#8221; he told the network.
&#8220;Exploring the genetic mechanism of human brain evolution is a major issue in the natural sciences,&#8221; he added, &#8220;and we will continue our exploration.&#8221;
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/12/asia/monkey-brain-human-china-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese scientists defend implanting human gene into monkeys&#8217; brains</a> [CNN]
More on the experiment: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/chinese-scientists-super-monkeys-human-brain-genes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese Scientists Gene-Hacked Super Smart Human-Monkey Hybrids</a>

He says the research will help in the treatment of human brain diseases.

Chinese scientist defends splicing human brain gene into monkeys

Not Monkeying Around

One of the scientists behind an experiment that gave monkeys human DNA, thereby making them smarter, has defended the controversial study to CNN.

Chinese Scientist Defends Splicing Human Brain Gene Into Monkeys

"We will continue our exploration."

<h2>DNA Shredder</h2>
<a href="https://futurism.com/crispr-genetic-engineering-change-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CRISPR-Cas9</a> allows researchers to make very precise cuts in DNA. But precise cuts aren&#8217;t always needed, because sometimes it makes more sense to splice up an entire sequence of DNA — and now researchers have a CRISPR tool that can do just that.
&#8220;Cas9 is a molecular scissor that goes where you want it and snips once,&#8221; University of Michigan researcher Yan Zhang said in a <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201904/new-dna-%E2%80%9Cshredder%E2%80%9D-technique-goes-beyond-crispr%E2%80%99s-scissors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. &#8220;But Cas3 goes where you want it, travels along the chromosome, and makes a spectrum of deletions tens of kilobases long.&#8221;
It&#8217;s like a &#8220;DNA shredder with a motor,&#8221; she added.
<h2>Deleted Segment</h2>
In a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1097276519302175?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> published on Monday in the journal Molecular Cell, Zhang and her colleagues describe how they were able to use Type I CRISPR-Cas3 to &#8220;shred&#8221; segments of DNA 300 to 100,000 base pairs long in human embryotic stem cells and HAP1 cells.
The experiment marked the first time anyone had used this CRISPR tool in human cells, and the researchers see a number of potential future applications.
For one, scientists could use Type I CRISPR-Cas3 to shred long sequences of non-coding DNA — DNA that doesn&#8217;t provide instructions for making proteins and the function of which is often unknown — to see what happens. This could help them track down large segments of DNA important for specific diseases.
They could also remove the shredding function altogether and use Cas3 as a long-range delivery system for epigenetic drugs.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201904/new-dna-%E2%80%9Cshredder%E2%80%9D-technique-goes-beyond-crispr%E2%80%99s-scissors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New DNA “shredder” technique goes beyond CRISPR’s scissors</a> [University of Michigan]
More on CRISPR: <a href="https://futurism.com/crispr-genetic-engineering-change-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A CRISPR Future: Five Ways Gene Editing Will Transform Our World</a>

They deleted segments of DNA 300 to 100,000 base pairs long.

Researchers use CRISPR "shredder" on human DNA for first time

Chopping DNA

Researchers have used Type 1 CRISPR-Cas3, which "shreds" DNA, in human cells for the first time, giving scientists a powerful new gene-editing tool.

Researchers Use CRISPR “Shredder” on Human DNA for First Time

It could help researchers discover DNA segments essential to diseases.

<h2>New Rules</h2>
The World Health Organization (WHO), an agency of the United Nations, is trying to sort out how scientists could responsibly alter human genomes in their labs — an effort to prevent the next He Jiankui from performing <a href="https://futurism.com/scientist-gene-hacked-babies-boosted-brains">unpublicized genetic experiments</a> on human subjects.
Specifically, the WHO <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/19-03-2019-who-expert-panel-paves-way-for-strong-international-governance-on-human-genome-editing">announced Tuesday</a> that an advisory committee didn&#8217;t recommend banning human gene-editing research, but did argue that researchers ought to have to register with the government before beginning an experiment.
<h2>Promoting Transparency</h2>
Many of the organization&#8217;s recommendations mirror the way clinical research is currently managed in the U.S., where scientists are required to seek approval from regulatory bodies in advance and are required to publish updates to their studies in a <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/">publicly-accessible database</a>.
&#8220;Gene editing holds incredible promise for health, but it also poses some risks, both ethically and medically,&#8221; said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
<h2>Big Difference</h2>
<a href="https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/who-panel-calls-for-a-registry-of-gene-editing-research-in-humans-65619">The Scientist </a><a href="https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/who-panel-calls-for-a-registry-of-gene-editing-research-in-humans-65619">points out</a> that the WHO has arrived at different conclusions than many scientists who have called for a temporary halt on human gene-editing research so that leaders in the field can figure out the most responsible and ethical way to move forward. But that doesn&#8217;t mean the WHO wants scientists to throw caution to the wind.
&#8220;The committee agrees that it is irresponsible at this time for anyone to proceed with clinical applications of human germline genome editing,&#8221; committee co-chairwoman Margaret Hamburg said in a press briefing <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/19/health/who-panel-demands-a-registry-for-human-gene-editing.html">attended by The New York Times</a>.
These recommendations may change, however. The panel of experts will continue to investigate human gene-editing over the next two years, consulting other experts and leaders before they come up with a finalized set of international standards.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/who-panel-calls-for-a-registry-of-gene-editing-research-in-humans-65619">WHO Panel Calls For a Registry of Gene-Editing Research in Humans</a> [The Scientist]
More on gene editing: <a href="https://futurism.com/gene-editing-human-embryos-us">Another Scientist Is Gene-Editing Human Embryos — but More Ethically</a>

"The committee agrees that it is irresponsible at this time for anyone to proceed with clinical applications of human germline genome editing."

United Nations calls for registry of human gene-editing projects

Take Two

The World Health Organization called for a public registry for all human gene-editing research to prevent any more debacles like that caused by He Jiankui

United Nations Calls for Registry of Human Gene-Editing Projects

An advisory committee fell short of calling for a ban on the technology.

<h2>Better Beans</h2>
Gene-editing has just achieved a new milestone.
A food service company in the Midwestern region of the United States is now using an oil made from genetically edited soybeans in its sauces, dressings, and fryer. The company that makes the oil claims this is the first commercial use of a gene-edited crop — possibly signaling the start of a new era of healthier, cheaper food courtesy of genetic engineering.
<h2>Good Fat</h2>
By using gene-editing technology to deactivate two genes found in soybeans, Minnesota-based agriculture company Calyxt says it&#8217;s created a soybean oil with no trans fats and more heart-healthy fats than traditional soybean oils.
The company <a href="https://www.apnews.com/17f0f799580a483fbd1b2d69bcf2ba18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told the Associated Press</a> that the oil also has a longer shelf life, which could decrease costs for consumers.
Calyxt won&#8217;t name the restaurant using its oil, citing &#8220;competitive reasons&#8221; for keeping the information secret, but the news that anyone is using a gene-edited crop in the U.S. could spur others to follow suit.
&#8220;This historical commercialization of the first-ever gene-edited food product is a testament that food manufacturers and consumers are not only embracing innovation, but also willing to pay a premium for products which are healthier and traceable to the source,&#8221; Calyxt&#8217;s Chief Commercial Officer Manoj Sahoo said in a recent <a href="http://www.calyxt.com/first-commercial-sale-of-calyxt-high-oleic-soybean-oil-on-the-u-s-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.
<h2>Not GMOs</h2>
Gene-edited crops have thus far managed to avoid much of the controversy surrounding <a href="https://futurism.com/usda-gene-edited-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">genetically modified organisms (GMOs)</a>, and for good reason — the two are very different.
To create GMOs, scientists add desirable genes from one organism to the genome of another — a genetically modified soybean, for example, might include DNA from a bacteria naturally resistant to pesticides.
When genetically editing a crop, on the other hand, scientists only delete or activate the crop&#8217;s own genes. In other words, the final product could appear in nature through mutation and natural selection.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/1e599ff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced in March</a> that genetically edited crops don&#8217;t require any additional oversight. That means while Calyxt&#8217;s soybean oil might be the first gene-edited food to reach the U.S. market, it very likely won&#8217;t be the last.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.apnews.com/17f0f799580a483fbd1b2d69bcf2ba18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gene-edited food quietly arrives in restaurant cooking oil</a> [Associated Press]
More on gene-edited crops: <a href="https://futurism.com/usda-gene-edited-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USDA Announces Super-Chill Stance on Gene-Edited Crops</a>

It's a soybean oil with no trans fats and more heart-healthy fats.

The first gene-edited food has reached US restaurants

Food First

A food service company in the Midwestern region of the United States is now serving a gene-edited food in its restaurants.

The First Gene-Edited Food Has Reached US Restaurants

But you probably won’t know if you’ve eaten it.

<h2>Global Moratorium</h2>
Late last year, Chinese scientist He Jiankui carried out a <a href="https://futurism.com/gene-editing-human-embryos-us">highly controversial</a> gene-editing experiment by <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612458/exclusive-chinese-scientists-are-creating-crispr-babies/">altering the genome</a> of a human embryo.
In a response to growing concern over future changes or edits to hereditary genes, some of the biggest names in gene editing signed an <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00726-5">open letter</a> published in the journal Nature this week, calling for a global moratorium on editing DNA to make genetically modified children.
<h2>Unintended Consequences</h2>
The reasoning behind the letter, which is signed by 18 scientists from across the globe, is rooted in the fact that we simple don&#8217;t know how exactly germline editing could affect the human body — or the bodies of future generations.
&#8220;By &#8216;global moratorium,&#8217; we do not mean a permanent ban,&#8221; reads the letter. &#8220;Rather, we call for the establishment of an international framework in which nations, [&#8230;] voluntarily commit to not approve any use of clinical germline editing unless certain conditions are met.&#8221;
An initial fixed period would allow no germline editing to allow for the creation of said framework.
<h2>International Framework</h2>
The letter points out that about 30 nations have legislation that &#8220;directly or indirectly bars all clinical uses of germline editing&#8221; already. But the international framework the letter suggests would cover all other countries as well.
The moratorium would exclude any experiments that don&#8217;t intend to implant live embryos and produce children. But any experiments meant to &#8220;improve&#8221; individuals &#8220;will require extensive study&#8221; and even then &#8220;substantial uncertainty would probably remain,&#8221; according to the letter.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613120/crispr-experts-are-calling-for-a-global-moratorium-on-heritable-gene-editing/">CRISPR experts are calling for a global moratorium on heritable gene editing</a> [MIT Technology Review] 

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

"We call for the establishment of an international framework."

CRISPR experts call for temporary world ban on gene-hacked children

Gene Editing Ban

Sme of the biggest names in gene editing signed an open letter this week, calling for a global moratorium on "heritable genome editing."

Experts Call for Temporary World Ban on Gene-Hacked Children

"By 'global moratorium,' we do not mean a permanent ban."

<h2>H.I.V. Cure</h2>
European scientists say that a bone marrow transplant has permanently cured a patient&#8217;s infection with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/health/aids-cure-london-patient.html">according to the New York Times</a>.
If the results hold up, it will be the second time in history that doctors have reportedly cured H.I.V. — though the procedure remains so prohibitively expensive, complex, and dangerous that it might not lead to a reliable treatment for the scourge.
<h2>Unidentified Patient</h2>
In <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1027-4">a paper</a> published Tuesday in the journal Nature, the researchers describe how they performed a bone marrow transplant into an unidentified patient using stem cells from a donor with a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/05/london-patient-becomes-second-man-to-be-cleared-of-aids-virus">rare genetic mutation</a> that causes a resistance to H.I.V.
Now, 18 months after the patient stopped taking antiretroviral medication, doctors say there&#8217;s been no sign of a return of the infection.
<h2>Urging Caution</h2>
The new patient is the second in history to be reportedly cured of H.I.V. through a bone marrow transplant. The first, who later identified himself as a California man named Timothy Ray Brown, underwent a similar procedure about 12 years ago.
Experts caution that bone marrow transplants are unlikely to ever become a common treatment for H.I.V., which was a virtual death sentence decades ago but which the advent of antiretroviral medications has transformed into what&#8217;s broadly considered a manageable health condition.
<h2>Gene Treatment</h2>
However, the lead author of the new study, Ravindra Gupta at the University College London, expressed hope that the research could pave the way for breakthroughs in gene-editing technology that could use the same resistance to H.I.V. that reportedly cured Brown and the new patient to cure patients without a donor.
&#8220;These new findings reaffirm our belief that there exists a proof of concept that H.I.V. is curable,&#8221; International AIDS Society president Anton Pozniak said <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2019/03/05/decade-after-first-person-was-cured-hiv-second-patient-is-long-term-remission/">in a statement</a>. &#8220;The hope is that this will eventually lead to a safe, cost-effective, and easy strategy to achieve these results using gene technology or antibody techniques.&#8221;
<h2>Sign of Hope</h2>
Regardless, though, the reported cure of a second H.I.V. patient is a sign of hope for people living with a previously incurable condition.
&#8220;If something has happened once in medical science, it can happen again,&#8221; Brown said in an interview with the Times. &#8220;I’ve been waiting for company for a long time.&#8221;
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/health/aids-cure-london-patient.html">H.I.V. Is Reported Cured in a Second Patient, a Milestone in the Global AIDS Epidemic</a> [The New York Times] 

More on H.I.V.: <a href="https://futurism.com/bill-gates-the-world-could-see-a-record-number-of-hiv-infections">Bill Gates: The World Could See a Record Number of HIV Infections</a>

The reported cure could lead to a gene-editing treatment for H.I.V.

Doctors say they've permanently cured a patient's HIV

Second Win

European scientists say that a bone marrow transplant has permanently cured a patient's infection with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS.

Doctors Say They’ve Permanently Cured a Patient’s HIV

"These new findings reaffirm our belief that there exists a proof of concept that H.I.V. is curable."

<h2>Primate Problem</h2>
In January, we reported on a <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/cloned-monkeys-gene-edited-chinese" target="_blank" rel="noopener">controversial video</a> featuring five newborn monkeys, all of which are clones of a single monkey genetically engineered with CRISPR to cause problems with its circadian rhythms. The monkey clones are clearly not well, exhibiting signs of anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia-like behaviors.
Some in the scientific community <a href="https://gizmodo.com/chinas-latest-cloned-monkey-experiment-is-an-ethical-me-1831987348" target="_blank" rel="noopener">questioned</a> whether the research was ethical, and now the lead scientist behind the study is defending his work — which he suggests will cost fewer monkeys their lives than standard research methods.
<h2>Cloning and CRISPR</h2>
In a new <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2194061-meet-the-man-who-made-crispr-monkey-clones-to-study-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with New Scientist, Hung-Chun Chang of the Institute of Neuroscience in Shanghai notes that cynomolgus monkeys, the kind used for his team&#8217;s study, are the most commonly used primate model for research. It&#8217;s legal everywhere in the world, he said, to edit the species&#8217; genes.
Given those two points, researchers might actually be able to subject far fewer monkeys to testing if they can reliably gene edit and then clone them.
&#8220;Every year, thousands of monkeys are subject to drug testing,&#8221; Chang told New Scientist. &#8220;And because of the genetic variations among individuals, we need to repeat the testing in many monkeys for meaningful results. That’s why we chose to do cloning: with completely identical monkeys, we can use fewer of them.&#8221;
<h2>Making Mistakes</h2>
If the scientific community is going to agree that testing on these monkeys is ethical, there is some logic behind the idea of gene-editing and cloning the animals to be identical models for specific tests.
However, a key part of that will be ensuring we can effectively edit and clone the animals, and we might not be there yet. Dozens of surrogate mothers underwent embryo implantations as part of Chang&#8217;s team&#8217;s research, but of the 16 that became pregnant, only five monkeys were born.
We&#8217;re going to need to answer many tough questions along the path to a future in which CRISPR helps humanity <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/poll-two-thirds-americans-support-human-gene-editing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eradicate disease</a>, <a href="https://futurism.com/geneticists-have-used-crispr-gene-editing-to-create-crops-that-grow-more-food" target="_blank" rel="noopener">end hunger</a>, or even <a href="https://futurism.com/reproduction-mars-colonization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">colonize the universe</a> — and whether or not the failures preceding the creation of these five monkeys crossed the ethical line is one of them.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2194061-meet-the-man-who-made-crispr-monkey-clones-to-study-depression/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meet the Man Who Made CRISPR Monkey Clones to Study Depression</a> [New Scientist]
More on the monkeys: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/cloned-monkeys-gene-edited-chinese" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chinese Scientists Cloned Gene-Edited Monkeys With Horrifying Results</a>

CRISPR could decrease the number of monkeys sacrificed.

Scientist defends controversial cloning of gene-edited monkeys

Seeing Double

Hung-Chun Chang, the scientist who created five monkey clones of a gene-edited animal, defends his research in an interview with New Scientist.

Scientist Defends Controversial Cloning of Gene-Edited Monkeys

"With completely identical monkeys, we can use fewer of them."

<h2>Flu Vaccine</h2>
Vaccines for bacterial and viral infections are extremely difficult to develop. But thanks to gene-editing, we could soon be able to make people immune to the flu or even HIV.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington developed a new technique to artificially create improved and longer-lasting antibodies by editing the DNA of so-called B cells — the immune system&#8217;s white blood cells responsible for creating antibodies.
<h2>Donor B Cells</h2>
The technique could eventually allow healthcare professionals to pass a major hurdle: many conventional antibody treatments are only effective for a short period of time — antibodies tend to break down quickly, requiring additional injections later down the line. In contrast, scientists believe that these new antibodies could one day only need to be injected once.
According to a <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/541979v1">preprint of the research</a> published in the journal bioRxiv earlier this month, an initial trial involving 15 mice delivered promising results: 82 days of protection against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — a respiratory tract infection that can prove dangerous to both children and adults.
<h2>A Growing Trend</h2>
Editing the DNA of B cells is a rapidly growing trend, New Scientist <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2194012-crispr-could-help-us-protect-ourselves-from-viruses-like-flu-and-hiv/">points out</a>. Multiple research teams are in a race to become the first to test the technique in human trials.
Scientists will have to prove the technique is safe first — and that will likely take a number of years. But if it ever does become a treatment for humans, &#8220;thousands of hospital visits, disabilities, and deaths could be prevented each year,&#8221; reads the preprint.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2194012-crispr-could-help-us-protect-ourselves-from-viruses-like-flu-and-hiv/">CRISPR could help us protect ourselves from viruses like flu and HIV</a> [New Scientist] 

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>

But scientists will have to prove the technique is safe first before any human trials.

CRISPR could make you immune to the flu

Editing B Cells

Researchers in Seattle, Washington developed a new technique to artificially create antibodies by editing the DNA of so-called B cells.

/Gene Editing