Imagine a dystopian future where gene editing becomes cheap and accessible, with people regularly altering their DNA to alter appearance or behavior – this is the vision of Josiah Zayner, leader of biohacking movement.
Biohackers are amateur scientists who experiment with genome editing outside traditional academic or industry labs. Their experimentations is often motivated by an urge to push scientific advancement forward while expanding society at large.
What is CRISPR?
CRISPR (Clusterered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats) technology is an efficient gene editing technique used by scientists for studying genes, correcting genetic disease and creating crops or animals with desirable traits. It’s faster, simpler and more precise than previous gene editing techniques used for creating edited DNA sequences.
CRISPR was initially discovered in bacterial immune systems. When bacteria detect invading viral DNA, they use CRISPR to cut and disable it while also storing any leftover fragments as “CRISPR spaces” within their genome to protect themselves against future threats.
Scientists soon realized they could harness this natural process to alter DNA in cells, making CRISPR an invaluable tool for biomedical research. A guide RNA can be created that specifically matches up with any target gene; then Cas9, an enzyme-containing protein will bind and cut at that location like molecular scissors before being replaced by the correct sequence of DNA sequence.
Researchers employ another molecule known as tracrRNA to help the Cas9 complex find its target DNA sequence. With its reversed CRISPR spacer sequence, tracrRNA binds directly to regions with matching CRISPR spacer sequence. Once Cas9 binds with its target DNA strands, both will be cut at that location and replaced by the cell’s own mechanisms with new sequences.
CRISPR technology is so potent that it has already found application in clinical settings to treat various illnesses. A team of scientists are already employing CRISPR to address genetic defects responsible for beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia so patients no longer require regular blood transfusions.
Though CRISPR has proven its worth in animal studies, scientists are continuing their experiments to tailor it for use in humans. They are developing ways of administering Cas9 to cells within the body in order to correct specific gene defects more precisely, and testing whether CRISPR may also help treat cancer more effectively than conventional therapies.
Scientists hope CRISPR will one day become the answer to many diseases, but this process could take decades before being adopted widely in clinical care settings.
How to use CRISPR
CRISPR has revolutionized bioscience like no other innovation of the last 50 years. Like an innovative GPS combined with precise molecular scissors, CRISPR allows scientists to locate and cut specific DNA strands inside living cells; or even completely rewrite genes if their functions change; in effect allowing scientists to eliminate disease-causing genetic mutations, improve crops, engineer animals for increased meat production or revive extinct species using CRISPR technology.
CRISPR technology’s ease of use and precision have allowed biohackers to experiment at home using DIY-CRISPR kits, leading many people to explore its ethical implications beyond research applications. According to one recent study, more people than ever are taking advantage of CRISPR for personal purposes than ever before.
Cas9 and its guide RNA (gRNA) comprise the core of this system. Together, these proteins identify sequences in genomes that match targets identified by the gRNA; then Cas9 cuts it; the cell then replaces that segment with new genes as desired. Scientists have created various gRNAs which allow them to target various parts of genomes or genes on or off as needed as well as image DNA in live cells – providing endless potential targets and outcomes.
Technology developed with this project is being employed to reduce HIV patients’ susceptibility to infection, correct sickle-cell anemia and beta-thalassemia defects that require lifelong blood transfusions, create malaria-resistant mosquitoes among other applications.
Some of these activities may be legitimate; others can raise serious concerns. One such instance was He Jiankui’s unfortunate attempt at editing genetic code in human embryos, for which he was imprisoned three years in December 2019 due to breaking a government ban and infringing upon this regulation.
Many researchers fear that, without rigorous oversight, CRISPR could be misutilized for unethical or dangerous uses. They fear unregulated DIY biohackers meddling with their genomes may create harmful mutations which are passed down from generation to generation – compounding this problem is its ability to cause more DNA damage than previously understood.
Getting started with CRISPR
Imagine living in a world in which genome editing became so widespread that you could alter the color of your eyes or the size of your muscles with just the click of a mouse, like getting tattoos are today. Though this sounds like the stuff of dystopian novels, scientists are already working on methods to make gene editing more accessible – especially to individuals – by developing techniques for CRISPR delivery into cells which will hopefully make this process less expensive and efficient while helping ensure only healthy cells receive modifications. It might not seem far off – and indeed scientists are already working hard on ways of making gene editing more accessible through developing methods which deliver CRISPR directly into cells for easier editing that may soon make this possibility a reality.
One such method utilizes viral delivery to deliver genes into living animals’ cells; though still experimental, this approach has shown promise when used on living animals. Another approach uses minicircles – small circular fragments of DNA injected directly into the body but less effective at targeting specific sequences within cells than viral delivery – but both methods could revolutionize medical technology; scientists are already testing CRISPR to treat Alzheimer’s and HIV, and in future these technologies may even allow parents to create designer babies with desirable traits.
What if we could harness this revolutionary technology for ourselves? That is the aim of biohackers, who use CRISPR to improve their own health through experimentation. There is currently an ever-increasing community that practices this form of DIY biology known as biohacking and DIY biology.
Biohackers are scientists who conduct self-experiments to enhance their own lives and health. Often these experiments fall outside traditional medical care’s purview, such as tracking sleep patterns or pumping younger blood into veins (yes, that’s a thing!). Biohackers even experiment with heritable changes within higher organisms such as plants and humans!
Although biohacking community has made strides towards exploring CRISPR, many still lack adequate experience and technical know-how to experiment. To fill this knowledge gap, some biohackers have created do-it-yourself kits which enable individuals to experiment with their DNA at home; these kits cost under $150 and come complete with instructions on how to assemble CRISPR system components.
Using CRISPR to edit your genes
CRISPR technology opens up incredible potential to treat genetic disease, advance agriculture and foster healthier environments – yet also presents many ethical dilemmas and challenges. Jennifer Doudna presents this remarkable technology and discusses some of its ethical ramifications during a TED Talk by giving an explanation on its functioning and discussing some ethical considerations related to its implementation.
As technology progresses, more individuals are exploring their bodies and minds through biohacking. These “biohackers” take a DIY approach to biology by using tools such as CRISPR to tinker with their DNA and ultimately make scientific research more accessible and affordable for the general public.
Biohackers often use their bodies as laboratories for testing new technologies ranging from infrared saunas, virtual float tanks, neurofeedback and cryotherapy to genome editing to modify cells and organs. Josiah Zayner of The Odin (which sells bacterial, yeast and CRISPR kits online) used his body as an experimentation platform when testing gene-editing plasmid designed to mutate muscle-building genes; unfortunately this experiment failed but demonstrated it is possible for everyday individuals to use CRISPR on themselves without supervision from lab.
Experimentation by biohackers may have serious repercussions, potentially impacting their descendants as well. To reduce this risk, most ongoing human studies that use CRISPR take place using cells extracted from the body and edited in a lab setting.
This technique is considered safer and more controlled than editing one’s cells directly within their body, making it harder for biohackers to accidentally modify sperm and egg cells that could then pass along genetic modifications to future offspring. As Spiderman’s uncle wisely reminded him: with great power comes great responsibility.