What will CRISPR be used for in the coming years? How might this technology change our world?
The future of CRISPR is filled with exciting possibilities and potential risks. From combating diseases to creating bioweapons, this gene-editing tool could revolutionize medicine, agriculture, and even warfare. Scientists are exploring applications ranging from treating cancer to enhancing human capabilities.
Keep reading to learn about CRISPR’s evolving role in shaping our future, as outlined by Walter Isaacson in his book The Code Breaker.
The Future of CRISPR
Isaacson discusses the potential future of CRISPR technology, explaining that many of CRISPR’s realized applications will likely be enhanced and reused (for example, CRISPR-derived tests and vaccines for COVID-19 could be used to combat other viruses). He also notes that gene therapy trials for both viruses and diseases, including Huntington’s disease (a painful neurodegenerative condition), cancer, and congenital blindness, are already underway. Finally, Isaacson lists two other potential applications of CRISPR that could change the world: biohacking and bioweaponry.
Isaacson describes biohacking as a social movement aimed at democratizing biotechnology. One well-known biohacker, Josiah Zayner, sells CRISPR technology kits online, which enables anyone with the funds to buy one to do their own gene editing experiments—for example, one kit enables you to make bacteria bioluminescent. Zayner once publicly injected himself with a CRISPR solution to demonstrate his belief that everyone should have access to this technology. One benefit of expanding access is that, as more people work with CRISPR, advancements will be made more quickly. But Isaacson implies that biohacking may also have serious risks.
(Shortform note: The term “biohacking” doesn’t exclusively refer to the movement to democratize biotechnology; the term is also applied to other ways of optimizing human life, including diets like intermittent fasting and injections with performance enhancement drugs. Zayner has expressed remorse about the self-injection stunt he pulled, since he fears that biohackers will push themselves beyond normal limits to conduct harmful self-experiments. This admission sheds some light on the serious risks associated with biohacking—the culture of the movement is such that participants are competing with each other to become the best. The dangers associated with biohacking led California to pass the first law regulating the practice.)
Finally, Isaacson explains that many officials worry that CRISPR technology could be used to engineer bioweapons. For this reason, the US Department of Defense (DoD) sponsors research on anti-CRISPRs: naturally occurring systems that help viruses overcome CRISPR defenses in bacteria. Some scientists, including Jennifer Doudna, are working on creating and implementing anti-CRISPR technology that could be used to fend off a CRISPR-derived bioweapon. Isaacson also notes that the DoD is currently pursuing research on the use of genetic enhancements to create supersoldiers.
| The Future of CRISPR Research Since Isaacson published The Code Breaker in 2021, scientists have made several breakthroughs regarding CRISPR’s potential applications. Let’s review what’s changed since 2021 for some of the potential applications Isaacson mentions. Scientists continue to develop CRISPR gene therapies for viruses and diseases. For example, research thus far has had promising results with regard to the treatment of sexually transmissible viruses like herpes, HPV, and hepatitis. Additionally, Chinese scientists have used CRISPR to deliver antiviral gene therapies to pigs to make their organs more suitable for implantation in humans, and CRISPR is being tested for its potential to enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapies in patients whose immune systems are too damaged to respond positively to the treatment. Scientists are also applying CRISPR to non-human life forms. For example, an artist is using CRISPR to recreate the fragrances of extinct flowers, a Dalmatian breeder is using CRISPR to prevent health problems in his dogs, and scientists are using CRISPR to slow the extinction of honeybees. Perhaps most controversially, some scientists have used CRISPR to create chimeras—or mixed-species hybrids, usually involving monkeys or pigs—to assist with human disease treatment. Scientists are also studying CRISPR’s potential purposes in warfare. Some scientists speculate that CRISPR could be used to create and spread viruses with a “zombification” effect and to create bioweapons out of snake venom. Others speculate that human DNA could be spliced with animal DNA to give soldiers advantageous traits like ultra-enhanced vision. Finally, it’s important to know that scientists are working on enhancing not only CRISPR’s applications, but also the technology itself. For example, advancements in quantum biology and artificial intelligence have enabled scientists to better understand which gRNAs are most suitable for experiments in the cells of different species. As the technology improves, we can probably expect its applications to become more precise and far-ranging. |
