CRISPR Gene Editing Causes Unintended, Disastrous, and Often Undetected Genetic Mutations
Updated
A recent study published in Nature Genetics has raised more serious concerns about gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9. The study reveals that the use of CRISPR/Cas9 ‘gene scissors’ to edit DNA can lead to unintended genetic changes that are extremely different from random mutations. The study found that significant structural changes in chromosomes occur much more frequently in the genomic regions targeted by the ‘gene scissors’ than would typically be expected. These unintended mutations could potentially increase the risk of cancer in both humans and animals. Furthermore, they can alter the composition of food in plants, thereby damaging the genetic stability of the plant and affecting its use in agriculture.
Regulators have insisted that unintentional genetic changes resulting from CRISPR/Cas9 are no different than adaptations from random mutations. This latest study, peer-reviewed and published in May 2024, proves this is not true. In addition to the risks of cancer in humans and animals, these unexpected changes have adverse environmental effects on plants by altering the composition of food derived from them. Unnoticed, these changes accumulate in genetic material, making the plant genetically unstable and unsuitable for agricultural use.
As science races to rework and remake the DNA of all living things, the significant question is: what exactly are CRISPR/Cas9 gene scissors? We know that the gene-damaging mRNA COVID-19 jabs were a disaster, with lifelong debilitating and deadly consequences. Why should we blindly trust CRISPR technology? CRISPR/Cas9, a Nobel Peace Prize in Chemistry winner in 2020, is a scissors-like chemical tool that can precisely cut and customize stretches of genetic material, including human DNA. Importantly, many of the ways in which CRISPR/Cas9 can impact cells are poorly understood. We do know the technology moves on past the manipulation that scientists have done with genomes for years. Now, CRISPR/Cas9 can zero in on a specific region of the genome and snip it in half, a feat no other tool can accomplish.
Once CRISPR/Cas9 has cut the specific area of the genome, the cell hurries (as nature intended) to heal its genetic wound, often using a similar-looking stretch of nearby, intact DNA as a template to facilitate its repair. At this moment, researchers have the opportunity to splice in a custom-made template of their own design with the hope that the cell will integrate the intended modification. What could possibly go wrong? Apparently, quite a lot. A 2020 study published in Cell revealed that CRISPR/Cas9 could cause severe and devastating side effects in the cells of human embryos when used to repair a mutation that causes hereditary blindness. Following its use, CRISPR/Cas9 wreaked havoc in nearly half of the embryos, prompting them to discard large chunks of their genetic material. At the time, New York University geneticist Nicole Kaplan remarked:
“We’re often used to hearing about papers where Crispr is very successful. But with the amount of power we hold [with this tool], it is crucial to understand consequences we didn’t intend.”
In the 2020 study, instead of gently coaxing the cell into editing the genetic “text” at which it was targeted, the CRISPR/Cas9 scissors gouged uncorrectable gaps in cells’ DNA, causing results that were “disproportionately disastrous.” Instead of repairing one gene, CRISPR/Cas9 altered a substantial fraction of the genome. The study authors concluded this probably happened in other CRISPR/Cas9 cases but went undetected because dumping or destroying a large segment of a chromosome would have destroyed evidence of the mutation as well.
Based on the results of the most recent study, little to no progress has been made in detecting and preventing the devastating consequences of using CRISPR/Cas9 to splice up genomes and play God with life. After all, it seems entirely abnormal to use a chemical concoction like CRISPR/Cas9 to interrupt the double DNA strand completely, causing it to temporarily separate from its main section, with the hope that the chromosomes can successfully restructure in the desired and manipulated way with unknown material. The absolutely frightening part is that detrimental mutations often go undetected, causing cancer in humans and animals.
As CRISPR/Cas9 increasingly inflicts harm on humans and animals and now the food and plant realm, the risks of its use can’t be overlooked. Again, they include damaging environmental effects and a change in the composition of food derived from these plants. Moreover, if these unintended mutations go unnoticed, they can accumulate in the genetic makeup of the plants, significantly degrading both the genetic stability of future plant varieties and their suitability for use in agriculture. As noted by GM Watch, with every new genetic engineering technique, there are great efforts to convince us that it’s no different than traditional breeding. Yet, soon after, a study comes along to prove that not to be the case, every single time. Indeed, the ripple effects from CRISPR/Cas9 mutations as they pass—often undetected—through all forms of life are frightening and seem nothing short of a script from a horror movie.