{"id":136636,"date":"2024-10-09T19:14:31","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T13:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=136636"},"modified":"2024-10-10T11:58:01","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T06:28:01","slug":"role-of-genome-editing","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/role-of-genome-editing","title":{"rendered":"Role of Genome-editing in curing Hereditary Cancers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the<strong> I<\/strong><\/span><b>nternational Agency for Research on Cancer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1 in 5 people will likely develop cancer in their lifetime.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Rising Global Cancer Burden: Inherited Risk and Future Projections<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2022, there were 20 million new cancer cases and nearly 10 million deaths due to cancer. By 2045, this is expected to increase to 32 million cases and 16 million deaths.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asia is predicted to have almost half of the world\u2019s cancer cases by 2045.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inherited Cancer Risk<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About 10% of cancers are caused by genetic mutations passed down from parents.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These inherited mutations are more common in ovarian cancer (20%) and occur in about 10% of people with breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Genome Editing<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136624 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/912-6706856e959ef.webp\" alt=\"Genome-editing\" width=\"347\" height=\"252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/912-6706856e959ef.webp 672w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/912-6706856e959ef-300x218.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Genome editing refers to technologies that allow scientists to change an organism&#8217;s DNA.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This involves adding, removing, or altering genetic material at specific points in the genome.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>CRISPR-Cas9 Technology<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CRISPR-Cas9 is a popular genome editing tool because it is faster, cheaper, more accurate, and more efficient than other methods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was adapted from a natural defence mechanism used by bacteria to fight viruses.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>How does CRISPR-Cas9 Works?<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bacteria store viral DNA segments in their genome, forming CRISPR arrays.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These arrays help them recognize and cut the DNA of attacking viruses using the Cas9 enzyme.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists have adapted this process to target and edit specific DNA sequences in human cells using guide RNA and the Cas9 enzyme.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Applications in Disease Treatment<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Genome editing is helpful to treat diseases like<\/span><b> cystic fibrosis, haemophilia, and sickle cell disease.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also holds promise for more complex conditions, s<\/span><b>uch as cancer, heart disease, and HIV.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.9504%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Somatic vs. Germline Editing<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Somatic Cells:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Changes made to non-reproductive cells are not passed onto offspring.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Germline Cells: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Editing of egg or sperm cells can result in inherited changes.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Ethical Concerns<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most genome editing affects<\/span><b> somatic cells (non-reproductive cells), <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">meaning changes aren&#8217;t passed to future generations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Editing germline cells <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(egg or sperm) raises ethical concerns since these changes could be inherited.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, germline editing is illegal in many countries due to safety and ethical issues, especially regarding enhancing human traits like intelligence or height.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>About Hereditary Cancer Syndromes<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hereditary cancer syndromes are <\/span><b>genetic disorders where mutations in one or more inherited <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">genes increase the risk of developing cancer.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These mutations can also cause cancer to develop at an earlier age.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Key Features<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Individuals with hereditary cancer syndromes have a higher lifetime risk of cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They may also develop multiple independent cancers in their lifetime.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Causes<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of these syndromes are caused by mutations in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tumor suppressor genes<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which normally protect cells from becoming cancerous.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other affected genes include those responsible for <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DNA repair<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">oncogenes<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (genes that promote cancer growth), and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">angiogenesis<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (the formation of blood vessels).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Common Syndromes<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Examples<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include <\/span><b><i>Hereditary Breast-Ovarian Cancer Syndrome<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span> <b><i>Lynch Syndrome<\/i><\/b><b> (Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon Cancer).<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>BRCA Genes<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, discovered in the mid-1990s.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are<\/span><b> important for understanding hereditary cancer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, particularly breast and ovarian cancers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>BRCA and Cancer Risks<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increase the risk of breast, ovarian, and fallopian tube cancers in women, as well as prostate and breast cancer in men.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These mutations are also linked to a higher risk of cancers like pancreatic, colorectal, and uterine cancers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Prevalence of BRCA Mutations<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BRCA mutations occur in about 1 in 400 people.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, certain groups, like Ashkenazi Jews, have a much higher prevalence of 1 in 40 individuals.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><b>Importance of Genetic Testing and Treatment<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Genetic Testing for BRCA Mutations<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Testing for BRCA mutations is important as it helps identify people at higher risk for cancer.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This allows for personalised prevention strategies, such as regular screening or preventive surgeries.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Targeted Therapies for BRCA Mutations<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treatments like PARP inhibitors have shown promise in treating cancers caused by BRCA mutations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.043%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 130.811%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.5357%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" 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Store<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1 in 5 people will likely develop cancer in their lifetime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2089],"subject":[2092],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/136636"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136636"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/136636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":136722,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/136636\/revisions\/136722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=136636"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=136636"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=136636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}