• Injection could permanently lower cholesterol by changing DNA
    35 replies, posted
[url]https://www.newscientist.com/article/2120369-injection-could-permanently-lower-cholesterol-by-changing-dna/[/url] [t]https://d1o50x50snmhul.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/06110003/c0309214-cholesterol_sem.jpg[/t] [QUOTE]A one-off injection could one day lower your cholesterol levels for the rest of your life. In 2005, it was discovered that a few people naturally have very low cholesterol levels, thanks to mutations that prevent their livers from making a protein called PCSK9. “They have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and no apparent side effects whatsoever,” says Gilles Lambert at the University of Reunion Island, who studies PCSK9, People born with natural mutations that disable a specific gene have a lower risk of heart disease, with no apparent side effects. Now a single injection has successfully disabled this same gene in animal tests for the first time. This potential treatment would involve permanently altering the DNA inside some of the cells of a person’s body, so doctors will have to be sure it is safe before trying it in people. But the benefits could be enormous. In theory, it could help millions live longer and healthier lives.[/QUOTE]
Where do i sign up for human trials :v:?
[QUOTE]with no apparent side effects[/QUOTE] Let's hope it stays that way. This sounds almost too good to be true.
I wonder if I posses this gene, every time I get a physical/blood work I'm told my cholesterol is low, despite eating like an absolute garbage disposal. Also no history of heart conditions in my family whatsoever. Hmm...
Next up: An injection that makes you live forever.
[QUOTE=Mitchel.;51800111]Where do i sign up for human trials :v:?[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]What’s more, the CRISPR method is constantly being improved. Other teams have developed modified versions of the CRISPR protein that are so precise off-target effects occur no more often than natural mutations in cells. Even so, Lambert thinks human trials are at least a decade away. “For now it’s very far-fetched,” he says. [/QUOTE] Come back in 10 years.
[QUOTE=Killer900;51800134]Next up: An injection that makes you live forever.[/QUOTE] Or injection to repair organ damage. IE fix dieing of alcoholism.
This is the exact type of thing that would start a zombie movie.
Oh shit, if this is going to work, that would be great. I've got familial Hypercholesterolemia (it basically runs in my whole family) and I am on meds to keep my cholesterol levels normal. The side effects of the meds are pretty shitty as well, so I'm all for a treatment like this, unless it makes things worse ofc.
[QUOTE=Mynamewontfi;51800275]Oh shit, if this is going to work, that would be great. I've got familial Hypercholesterolemia (it basically runs in my whole family) and I am on meds to keep my cholesterol levels normal. The side effects of the meds are pretty shitty as well, so I'm all for a treatment like this, unless it makes things worse ofc.[/QUOTE] Nothing is free. Everything has a down side.
Why are we not pumping more money in gene therapy? So much potential for savings and improvements in quality of life.
I remember briefly studying this in my genetics class a few years ago At the time I remember wondering why no one was testing this modified gene or replicating its effects on other creatures
[QUOTE=Biotoxsin;51800559]Why are we not pumping more money in gene therapy? So much potential for savings and improvements in quality of life.[/QUOTE] Stupid people hear about genetics and automatically think either nazis or gattica.
[QUOTE=Biotoxsin;51800559]Why are we not pumping more money in gene therapy? So much potential for savings and improvements in quality of life.[/QUOTE] I guess guess fear of Frankenstein effect?
[QUOTE=Stroheim;51800230]This is the exact type of thing that would start a zombie movie.[/QUOTE] So I Am Legend?
I'm always confused how you go about altering someone's DNA. Don't we have the DNA information in every cell of the body? How do you go about overwriting that?
[QUOTE=Guriosity;51800516]Nothing is free. Everything has a down side.[/QUOTE] what about dirt
[QUOTE=Duck M.;51800725]what about dirt[/QUOTE] Anthrax and tetanus are in dirt.
[QUOTE=Duck M.;51800725]what about dirt[/QUOTE] You have to buy dirt if you want to establish a building. Be it a home, business, etc. Which sucks, in my opinion. You're buying what should be free because it's natural land. But I guess if it was free, people would get VERY territorial.
[QUOTE=Darquan90;51800682]I'm always confused how you go about altering someone's DNA. Don't we have the DNA information in every cell of the body? How do you go about overwriting that?[/QUOTE] This is my guess here, but perhaps utilizing something like an engineered virus or phage to transmit the edited DNA into your cells?
[QUOTE=ScriptKitt3h;51800901]This is my guess here, but perhaps utilizing something like an engineered virus or phage to transmit the edited DNA into your cells?[/QUOTE] Retroviruses and CRISPIR/CAS9
Pretty much. Though I imagine the integration of the new genetic code would take a while, especially if it needs to rewrite EVERY cell in your body. And since you're effectively infecting yourself to administer the alterations, I imagine the immune system would want to have a few words with you. Still, I would heartily welcome a retrovirus that causes my body to prioritize consuming visceral fat. 'cause this stuff isn't exactly going anywhere, and my schedule doesn't permit much in the way of gym time. Not to mention, my work-hours mean that I'm more active at night, so that's another wrinkle in the ironing.
Does this work on humans only? My dog has chronic hyper cholesterol and may not be long for this world.
[QUOTE=Darquan90;51802159]Does this work on humans only? My dog has chronic hyper cholesterol and may not be long for this world.[/QUOTE] The article mentioned that its been successful in animal trials, so there is hope for your doggo. :smile:
[QUOTE=LoneWolf_Recon;51801238]Retroviruses and CRISPIR/CAS9[/QUOTE] How do they get Cas9 into the cell in a living animal? Does the retrovirus contain the Cas9 gene in addition to the crRNA and trRNA sequences?
My LDL hovers around 60-70 mg/dL no matter what I eat, so I guess I'm one of these mutants. :v:
Everyone wishes for transhumanism to lead into cyborg augmented technology, but I want fucking mutagen to make me a GMO.
[QUOTE=Tetsmega;51803252]Everyone wishes for transhumanism to lead into cyborg augmented technology, but I want fucking mutagen to make me a GMO.[/QUOTE] Folks believed that the future of humanity would be mostly cyberpunk, but the way things are going nowadays it's probably going to be more akin to "ribogrunge", where augmenting one's genetic code is more commonplace than replacing yourself with machine parts, and the world itself is sliding into a grimy, filthy state of affairs, with the foulness within seeping to the surface like an overflowing sewer. Ain't gonna be ribo[B]funk[/B], I'll tell you that. No love for the funk no more.
[QUOTE=Tetsmega;51803252]Everyone wishes for transhumanism to lead into cyborg augmented technology, but I want fucking mutagen to make me a GMO.[/QUOTE] Can I just get both? Give me a robot arm, wolf ears and a tail and I'd be happy.
[QUOTE=ironman17;51803560]Folks believed that the future of humanity would be mostly cyberpunk, but the way things are going nowadays it's probably going to be more akin to "ribogrunge", where augmenting one's genetic code is more commonplace than replacing yourself with machine parts, and the world itself is sliding into a grimy, filthy state of affairs, with the foulness within seeping to the surface like an overflowing sewer. Ain't gonna be ribo[B]funk[/B], I'll tell you that. No love for the funk no more.[/QUOTE] Well you think that is more kin to somewhat realistic Biopunk-theme dystopia (also bonus on article that I found of how Trump is supposedly subverison to Cyberpunk dystopia) [url]http://www.theverge.com/2017/2/3/14488200/donald-trump-cyberpunk-future-backlash[/url]
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