Center for Advanced Studies (CAS) Research Focus CRISPR/Cas
Center for Advanced Studies (CAS)
6 episodes
5 months ago
Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2020 for their discovery in 2011 that CRISPR/Cas can be used to cut DNA at specific sites – a discovery that revolutionized research, especially in the fields of medicine and plant breeding. With this method, it is possible to make specific cuts and modifications to DNA with minimal cost and unparalleled efficiency (Genome Editing). Due to its simple handling, CRISPR/Cas-assisted gene editing is a technology that is further developing very quickly. Alongside other improvements, there are now methods for introducing CRISPR tools directly into plant or animal cells – without the detour via a corresponding gene construct. In essence: we are now in a position not only to read genomes, but also essentially to rewrite them at will.
However, this new method and its further development also raises a number of legal, social, ethical and economic questions, for example regarding regulation or the establishment of an international moratorium on all forms of germ line intervention in humans. Plant breeding is concerned with the question of whether genome editing leads to plants being regarded as genetically modified organisms even though their genomes look "nature-identical". At the same time, the extent to which genome editing can contribute to the sustainable production and distribution of safe food remains highly debated. Another aspect is the problem of patents: who is entitled to which patents for the CRISPR Cas9 technology? And of course there is the question of how best to communicate this technology – its potentials and also its dangers – to a broader audience and initiate a constructive dialog between scientists and the general public.
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Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2020 for their discovery in 2011 that CRISPR/Cas can be used to cut DNA at specific sites – a discovery that revolutionized research, especially in the fields of medicine and plant breeding. With this method, it is possible to make specific cuts and modifications to DNA with minimal cost and unparalleled efficiency (Genome Editing). Due to its simple handling, CRISPR/Cas-assisted gene editing is a technology that is further developing very quickly. Alongside other improvements, there are now methods for introducing CRISPR tools directly into plant or animal cells – without the detour via a corresponding gene construct. In essence: we are now in a position not only to read genomes, but also essentially to rewrite them at will.
However, this new method and its further development also raises a number of legal, social, ethical and economic questions, for example regarding regulation or the establishment of an international moratorium on all forms of germ line intervention in humans. Plant breeding is concerned with the question of whether genome editing leads to plants being regarded as genetically modified organisms even though their genomes look "nature-identical". At the same time, the extent to which genome editing can contribute to the sustainable production and distribution of safe food remains highly debated. Another aspect is the problem of patents: who is entitled to which patents for the CRISPR Cas9 technology? And of course there is the question of how best to communicate this technology – its potentials and also its dangers – to a broader audience and initiate a constructive dialog between scientists and the general public.
Panel discussion with Dr. Oana Dima, Prof. Dr. Caroline Gutjahr, and Prof. Dr. Kai P. Purnhagen | Moderation: Christoph von Eichhorn. The dicussion is the final event in the lecture series "Out of the Box: CRISPR/Cas".
The lecture series reflects on the consequences of the revolutionary gene editing technology CRISPR/Cas in the fields of natural sciences and medicine, as well as its societal significance.
The evetn is part of the lecture series "Out of the Box: CRISPR/Cas". The lecture series reflects on the consequences of the revolutionary gene editing technology CRISPR/Cas in the fields of natural sciences and medicine, as well as its societal significance.
The lecture series reflects on the consequences of the revolutionary gene editing technology CRISPR/Cas in the fields of natural sciences and medicine, as well as its societal significance. The top-class speakers of the series include Kay Davies (Oxford), Kevin M. Esvelt (MIT), Caroline Gutjahr (TUM), Henry T. Greely (Stanford), Dirk Inzé (Gent), Greg Newby (Broad Institute), Kai P. Purnhagen (Bayreuth), Pamela C. Ronald (UC Davis) and Jörg Vogel (HIRI/Würzburg).
The lecture series is part of the CAS Research Focus "CRISPR/Cas" . The spokesperson of this Research Focus is Prof. Dr. Eckhard Wolf (LMU).
Genome editing gives precise control of the type of genetic modification made to a cell. Hematopoietic stem cells have pharmacologic properties of durability and output that still remain untapped. Matthew Porteus and his group are using genome editing of hematopoietic stem cells to develop new classes of drugs to treat patients.
Sickle cell disease is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. Even optimal conventional care has demonstrated inferiority compared to curative options such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Gene editing promises an elegant alternative cure to all patients lacking a matched donor, potentially avoiding many of the transplantrelated complications. | Selim Corbacioglu is Professor for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine as well as Director of the department for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation at the University Hospital Regensburg. 2019, he was able to succesfully treat a beta-thalassemia-patient by means of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapy for the first time.
The discovery that CRISPR/Cas can be used to cut DNA at specific sites eight years ago revolutionized research – especially in medicine and plant breeding. With this new method it is possible to cut and modify DNA in a targeted manner (Genome Editing) at low cost and unprecedented efficiency. Due to its ease of use CRISPR/Casassisted gene editing is a technology that is rapidly evolving. In substance: We are now able to not only read genomes, but also to re-write them essentially at will. LMU researchers report and discuss what this technology is meaning for their respective field.
Alison Abbott ist Senior European Correspondent für Nature in München. | Christoph Klein ist Direktor der Kinderklinik und Kinderpoliklinik im Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspital der LMU. |Dominik Paquet ist Professor für Neurobiologie am Institut für Schlaganfall und Demenzforschung (ISD) an der LMU. |Silke Robatzek leitet die Arbeitsgruppe "Pflanzenzell- Immunität" am Biozentrum der LMU. | Eckhard Wolf ist Professor für Molekulare Tierzucht und Biotechnologie am Genzentrum der LMU.
Center for Advanced Studies (CAS) Research Focus CRISPR/Cas
Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2020 for their discovery in 2011 that CRISPR/Cas can be used to cut DNA at specific sites – a discovery that revolutionized research, especially in the fields of medicine and plant breeding. With this method, it is possible to make specific cuts and modifications to DNA with minimal cost and unparalleled efficiency (Genome Editing). Due to its simple handling, CRISPR/Cas-assisted gene editing is a technology that is further developing very quickly. Alongside other improvements, there are now methods for introducing CRISPR tools directly into plant or animal cells – without the detour via a corresponding gene construct. In essence: we are now in a position not only to read genomes, but also essentially to rewrite them at will.
However, this new method and its further development also raises a number of legal, social, ethical and economic questions, for example regarding regulation or the establishment of an international moratorium on all forms of germ line intervention in humans. Plant breeding is concerned with the question of whether genome editing leads to plants being regarded as genetically modified organisms even though their genomes look "nature-identical". At the same time, the extent to which genome editing can contribute to the sustainable production and distribution of safe food remains highly debated. Another aspect is the problem of patents: who is entitled to which patents for the CRISPR Cas9 technology? And of course there is the question of how best to communicate this technology – its potentials and also its dangers – to a broader audience and initiate a constructive dialog between scientists and the general public.
