‘Gene repair’ technique could be used to cure hereditary blindness

According to scientists, a controversial new form of ‘gene repair’ could be tried on humans within the next two years. Known as Crispr, it could be able to treat several thousands of inherited disorders such as Huntington’s disease and cystic fibrosis.

Editas Medicine, a Massachusetts-based biotechnology start-up, has proposed human trials for the therapy that could potentially treat a rare form of blindness. This treatment would involve injecting the retina with a range of viruses that contain DNA instructions needed to make the components of Crispr. It also contains a protein that can cut a gene at a precise location.

Scientists claim that the exact gene error is already known and the eye can be safely treated with such genetic treatments. However, there are still questions that remain over whether there could be any side effects as result of the changes caused in the DNA, according to the Daily Mail.

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