Science

SCIENCE BREAKTHROUGH! 

Japanese scientists at Mie University, led by Dr. Ryotaro Hashizume, used CRISPR to remove the extra chromosome 21 that causes Down syndrome, a condition affecting 1 in 700 births, causing intellectual disabilities and health issues like heart problems and early Alzheimer’s.
Their method, called “allele-specific editing,” targets the extra chromosome, cutting it so it’s naturally removed during cell division. In tests, up to 30.6% of treated cells—both stem and skin cells from Down syndrome patients—worked normally again, with proper gene and protein function.
Published in Nature Biotechnology, this is the first time the root cause of Down syndrome has been fixed at the cellular level, offering hope for better treatments. However, the 30.6% success rate isn’t perfect, and there are risks of unwanted gene edits or some cells keeping the extra chromosome.
Clinical use is still years away due to safety and ethical concerns, especially about editing genes that could be passed to future generations.
Disclaimer: Image is not mine.

Amazing breakthrough in genetic research! This study offers hope for better treatments for Down syndrome. However, there are still concerns to address before clinical use. Let's continue supporting scientific advancements for the benefit of all. 🧬🔬