Genetic Engineering and Diseases – Gene Drive & Malaria

Summary

This video explores the potential of using CRISPR gene editing to eradicate malaria by genetically engineering mosquitoes to be immune to the disease. It discusses the technology's ability to create a gene drive that could rapidly spread the anti-malaria gene through mosquito populations, effectively stopping transmission. The video also raises ethical questions about altering the genetic code of a species and the potential risks and benefits of such an approach.

Takeaways

• 🦟 Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of deadly diseases like Malaria, which historically has been one of the biggest killers of humans.
• 🔬 Genetic engineering, specifically CRISPR technology, offers a potential solution to eradicate Malaria by altering the mosquito population to make them immune to the disease.
• 🧬 Scientists have already created a strain of mosquitoes in a lab that are resistant to the Malaria parasite through the addition of an antibody gene.
• 🌐 The use of a genetic engineering method called 'gene drive' could ensure that the anti-Malaria gene becomes dominant in mosquito populations, spreading quickly.
• 🌟 If successful, the spread of the anti-Malaria gene could lead to the near disappearance of Malaria, saving hundreds of thousands of lives annually.
• 🌱 The technology is still relatively new, and there are concerns about the long-term, unintended consequences of altering the genetic code of a species on such a large scale.
• 🤔 There is ongoing debate about the ethics of using gene drive technology, with some arguing that the potential benefits outweigh the risks, especially considering the current death toll from Malaria.
• 🧐 The worst-case scenario of the genetic modification might be that it is ineffective or that the parasite evolves to resist the changes, but the overall genome would not be significantly altered.
• 🌐 The success of this approach could have broader implications for combating other diseases carried by different vectors, such as Dengue fever, Zika, Lyme disease, and more.
• 📣 Public discourse on the use of gene drive technology is lagging behind the pace of scientific development, and there is a need for more informed discussions on how to proceed.

Q & A

What is the deadliest animal on the planet according to the script?

The deadliest animal on the planet, according to the script, is the mosquito, responsible for the death of billions of people.

What disease is mentioned as being caused by a group of microorganisms called Plasmodia?

Malaria is the disease caused by a group of microorganisms called Plasmodia.

How does the Plasmodium parasite enter the human body?

The Plasmodium parasite enters the human body through the bite of an infected mosquito, where it travels to the liver and then into the bloodstream.

What is the role of the mosquito in the transmission of Malaria?

Mosquitoes are the primary carriers of the Plasmodium parasite, which causes Malaria. They transmit the parasite when they bite humans.

What is the potential impact of eradicating Malaria through genetic engineering?

Eradicating Malaria through genetic engineering could save millions of lives and prevent suffering on an unprecedented scale.

What is CRISPR and how does it relate to the script's discussion?

CRISPR is a revolutionary gene-editing technology that allows for fast, large-scale changes to entire species' genetic information. It is discussed as a potential tool to eradicate Malaria by engineering mosquitoes to be immune to the Plasmodium parasite.

What is a gene drive and how does it enhance genetic engineering in mosquitoes?

A gene drive is a genetic engineering method that forces a new gene to become dominant in subsequent generations, ensuring that nearly all offspring inherit the engineered gene. This method is crucial for spreading the anti-malaria gene quickly through mosquito populations.

What are the potential risks associated with using gene drives to alter mosquito populations?

Potential risks include the possibility that the engineered mosquitoes might not be effective, the parasite could adapt in a negative way, or there could be unintended ecological consequences.

Why is there debate about using gene drive technology to combat Malaria?

There is debate because this technology involves consciously changing the genetic code of a free-living organism on an unprecedented scale, and once done, there is no going back. The potential for unwanted consequences must be carefully considered.

What is the ethical dilemma presented by the script regarding the use of gene drive technology?

The ethical dilemma is whether it is unethical not to use gene drive technology when it could save thousands of lives daily, despite the potential risks and long-term ecological impacts.

How does the script suggest the public's understanding of genetic engineering compares to the current state of the technology?

The script suggests that the public's understanding of genetic engineering, particularly gene drives, is lagging behind the technology itself, indicating a need for increased public discourse and education on the subject.

Outlines

00:00

🦟 Eradicating Malaria with Genetic Engineering

The video script discusses the potential of using genetic engineering to combat malaria, a disease historically responsible for the death of billions. Malaria is caused by Plasmodia, single-celled parasites that rely on mosquitoes for transmission. The script explains the life cycle of the parasite and its devastating effects on human health, including fever, chills, and in severe cases, coma or death. It introduces CRISPR technology as a revolutionary tool that could enable us to make large-scale genetic changes to entire species. Scientists have already created a strain of mosquitoes immune to the malaria parasite by adding an antibody gene. However, to ensure the engineered gene is inherited, a method called the gene drive is used, which forces the new gene to become dominant in subsequent generations. The script raises the question of whether the potential benefits of eradicating malaria justify the use of such technology, considering the rapid spread of the malaria-blocking gene and the potential for Plasmodium to lose its ability to infect humans.

05:04

🧬 The Broader Implications of Genetic Engineering in Disease Control

The second paragraph expands on the potential applications of genetic engineering beyond malaria, mentioning other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and fleas, such as Dengue fever, Zika, Lyme disease, sleeping sickness, and the plague. It emphasizes the possibility of saving millions of lives and preventing immense suffering through this technology. The script acknowledges the novelty of CRISPR editing and the significant concerns about altering the genetic code of free-living organisms on such a scale, as there is no way to reverse the changes once made. It points out that the genetic modification for malaria is a minor change, focusing on a specific part of the genome, and the worst-case scenario might be the failure of the approach or negative adaptation by the parasite. The discussion calls for careful consideration of the technology and questions the ethics of not using it when it could save lives. The script concludes by highlighting the need for public discourse to catch up with the rapid advancements in genetic engineering and invites viewers to support the creation of more educational content and to explore related topics through suggested videos.

Keywords

💡Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering refers to the direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology. In the context of the video, genetic engineering is discussed as a potential solution to eradicate malaria by altering the genetic makeup of mosquitoes to make them immune to the malaria parasite. This is a central theme as it explores the ethical and practical implications of using such technology to combat a deadly disease.

💡Mosquito

Mosquitoes are small insects that play a significant role in the transmission of diseases like malaria, dengue, and Zika. The video highlights mosquitoes as the 'deadliest animal on the planet' due to their role in spreading these diseases, which have caused the death of billions. The discussion revolves around the possibility of using genetic engineering to stop mosquitoes from being disease vectors.

💡Malaria

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is a focal point in the video as it discusses the devastating impact of malaria on human lives, with hundreds of millions of infections and nearly half a million deaths in 2015 alone. The video explores the potential of genetic engineering to eliminate malaria by modifying mosquitoes to be resistant to the parasite.

💡Plasmodia

Plasmodia are a group of microorganisms consisting of a single cell that cause malaria. They rely on mosquitoes for transmission and can lead to severe illness and death in humans. The video describes the life cycle of Plasmodia, from being introduced into the human body through a mosquito bite to multiplying within red blood cells and causing severe symptoms.

💡CRISPR

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a revolutionary gene-editing technology that allows scientists to make precise changes to an organism's DNA. The video discusses how CRISPR could be used to create a strain of mosquitoes that are immune to the malaria parasite, thereby preventing the spread of the disease. CRISPR is portrayed as a powerful tool that could revolutionize the fight against malaria.

💡Gene Drive

A gene drive is a genetic engineering technique that increases the likelihood that a particular gene variant will be inherited by offspring, potentially spreading a desired trait through an entire population quickly. In the video, gene drive is presented as a solution to ensure that the anti-malaria gene is passed on to the majority of mosquito offspring, which is crucial for the success of the genetic modification strategy.

💡Antibody Gene

An antibody gene is a segment of DNA that codes for antibodies, which are proteins that help the immune system identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. The video mentions that scientists have added an antibody gene to mosquitoes that targets Plasmodium, making the mosquitoes immune to the malaria parasite and thus unable to transmit the disease.

💡Zika Virus

The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause severe birth defects if it infects pregnant women. The video briefly mentions the Zika virus to illustrate the broader issue of mosquito-borne diseases and the potential of genetic engineering to combat them, just as it is being explored for malaria.

💡Eradication

Eradication in the context of the video refers to the complete elimination of a disease or organism. The term is used to discuss the ambitious goal of using genetic engineering to eliminate malaria by modifying the mosquito population. Eradication is a key concept as it represents the ultimate outcome scientists are striving for through these genetic interventions.

💡Ethical Concerns

Ethical concerns are the moral implications and questions that arise when considering the use of new technologies, such as genetic engineering. The video addresses the ethical dilemmas associated with altering the genetic code of a species, including the potential for unintended consequences and the irreversible nature of such changes. It prompts viewers to consider whether the benefits of eradicating malaria outweigh these concerns.

💡Public Discussion

Public discussion refers to the dialogue and debate among society about important issues. In the video, it is mentioned that the public discussion on genetic engineering and its applications, such as in the case of malaria, is lagging behind the pace of technological advancement. This highlights the need for broader and more informed conversations about the use of such powerful technologies.

Highlights

The deadliest animal on the planet is the mosquito, responsible for billions of deaths due to diseases like Malaria.

Malaria, caused by Plasmodia, is one of the biggest killers in human history, infecting hundreds of millions and killing nearly half a million people in 2015 alone.

Plasmodia parasites rely on mosquitoes for transmission, starting with an insect bite that delivers sporozoites to the human host.

After invading the human body, Plasmodia hide in liver cells, avoiding the immune system, and multiply into merozoites.

Merozoites burst from liver cells into the bloodstream, attacking red blood cells and causing flu-like symptoms and potentially fatal complications.

Mosquitoes are the perfect carriers for human diseases, being abundant, prolific, and nearly impossible to eradicate.

CRISPR technology offers a revolutionary approach to eradicate Malaria by genetically engineering mosquitoes to be immune to the Plasmodia parasite.

Scientists have created a strain of mosquitoes with an added antibody gene that targets Plasmodium, preventing the spread of Malaria.

Gene drive is a genetic engineering method that forces a new gene to become dominant in offspring, ensuring the spread of the anti-malaria edit.

With gene drive, 99.5% of engineered mosquitoes' offspring would carry the anti-malaria gene, potentially eradicating Malaria rapidly.

The rapid spread of the anti-malaria gene could make Plasmodium lose its mosquito host, virtually disappearing as a threat to humanity.

The potential of gene drive technology raises ethical questions about altering the genetic code of free-living organisms on a large scale.

There are concerns about the irreversible nature of genetic modifications and the possibility of unintended consequences.

The risk of using gene drive technology might be acceptable for Malaria, given the specific and limited scope of the genetic change.

The worst-case scenario of gene drive technology might be its ineffectiveness or negative adaptation by the parasite.

The urgency of using gene drive technology is highlighted by the daily death toll of children from Malaria.

Public discussion on gene drive technology lags behind its rapid development, necessitating a prompt and informed decision-making process.

Transcripts

What if you could use genetic engineering to stop humanity's most

dangerous predator, the deadliest animal on the planet responsible for the death

of billions, the mighty mosquito? Along with other diseases it plays host to

Malaria, one of the cruelest parasites on Earth

possibly the single biggest killer of humans in history.

In 2015 alone

hundreds of millions were infected and almost half a million people died.

A new technology could help us eradicate Malaria forever, but to do so we need to

engineer a whole animal population.

This is not a hypothetical problem, the modified mosquitoes already exist in a lab.

Should we use the technology, and is malaria bad enough to risk it?

(Intro Music)

Malaria is caused by a group of microorganisms: Plasmodia, very weird

microorganisms that consists of just a single-cell, they're parasites that

completely rely on mosquitoes. Malaria always starts with an insect bite.

In it's salivary glands, thousands of sporozoites wait until the insect penetrates your

skin, immediately after invading you they head for the liver where they quietly

enter big cells and hide from the immune system. For up to a month they stay here

in stealth mode consuming the cells alive and changing into their next form:

small drop like merozoites, they multiply generating thousands of themselves and

then burst out of the cells. So thousands of parasites head into the bloodstream

to look for their next victims, Red blood cells, to stay unnoticed, they wrap

themselves in the membranes of the cells they killed. Imagine that! Killing someone

from the inside and then taking their skin as camouflage, brutal!

They now violently attack red blood cells, multiplying inside them until they burst

then finding more red blood cells and this cycle repeats over and over.

Pieces of dead cells spread lots of toxic waste material, which activates a powerful

immune response causing flu-like symptoms, among the symptoms are high

fever, sweats and chills, convulsions, headaches and sometimes vomiting and

diarrhea. If malaria breaches the blood-brain barrier it can cause coma,

neurological damage or death. The parasites are ready for evacuation now.

When another mosquito bites the infected human they get a ride, the cycle can

start over.

In 2015, the Zika virus, which causes horrible birth defects if it

infects pregnant women, spread rapidly into new areas around the globe. It too

is carried by a mosquito. The mosquito is the perfect carrier for human diseases

they've been around for at least 200 million years. There are trillions of

them and a single one can lay up to 300 eggs at a time. They are practically

impossible to eradicate and the perfect parasite taxi. But today we have a new

revolutionary technology, that could enable us to finally win the war

against them; CRISPR. For the first time in human history, we have the tools to

make fast, large-scale changes to entire species, changing their genetic

information as we please.

So instead of attacking isolated groups of insects, why not just change the

types that transmit diseases?

Using genetic engineering, scientists

successfully created a strain of mosquitoes that are immune to the

malaria parasite by adding a new antibody gene that specifically targets

plasmodium. These mosquitoes will never spread malaria. But just changing genetic

information is not enough. The edits would only be inherited by half the

offspring because most genes have two versions inside the genome as a

fail-safe. So after just two generations, at most only half of the offspring would

carry the engineered gene. In a population of billions of mosquitoes they would

hardly make a difference.

A genetic engineering method called the gene drive

solves this problem.

It forces the new gene to become dominant in the following generations

overpowering the old gene almost completely.

Thanks to this twist, 99.5% of all the engineered mosquitoes offspring will

carry the anti-malaria edit. If we were to release enough engineered mosquitoes

into the wild to mate with normal mosquitoes, the malaria blocking gene would spread

extremely quickly.

As the new gene becomes a permanent feature of the

mosquito population, Plasmodium would lose its home base.

Scientists hope that the change would be so fast that they could not adapt to it quickly enough.

Malaria could virtually disappear.

If you take into account that

maybe half a million children are killed by it every year, about five have died

since this video started. Some scientists argue that we should use the technology

sooner, rather than later.

The mosquitoes themselves would probably only profit from this, they don't have

anything to gain from carrying parasites and this might only be the first step

Malaria might just be the beginning.

Different mosquitoes also carry Dengue

fever and Zika, ticks transmit Lyme disease, flies transmit sleeping sickness

fleas transmit the plague. We could save millions of lives and prevent suffering

on an unbelievable scale. So, why haven't we done this yet?

For one, CRISPR editing is

barely four years old, so until very recently we just couldn't do it as fast

and easily. And there are valid concerns.

Never before have humans consciously changed the genetic code of a free-living

organism on this scale.

Once we do it,

there is no going back. So it has to be done right, because there could be

unwanted consequences if we set out to edit nature.

In this specific case of malaria though, the risk might be acceptable

since the genetic modification doesn't make a big change in the overall genome.

It only changes a very specific part.

The worst-case scenario here, is probably

that it might not work or that the parasite adapts in a negative way.

There is still much debate.

Technology as powerful as gene drive, needs to be

handled with a lot of care but at some point we have to ask ourselves: Is it

unethical to not use this technology, when every day 1,000 children die.

Humanity has to decide how to act on this in the next few years.

The public discussion is way behind the technology in this case.

What do you think?

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do so here. We really appreciate it. If you want to learn more about the topic

of genetic engineering, we have another video about CRISPR and GMOs, and in case

that's too much biology for you, here's a space playlist.