And although many software packages exist to help with gene editing and synthesis, the scope of those software algorithms is limited to single or few gene edits. Until now, genetic editing has been a matter of changing one or two genes within a massive genome sophisticated techniques likeĬRISPR can create targeted edits, but at a small scale. However, the process of identifying and understanding variants that cause disease and developing targeted therapeutics is still in its infancy and remains a defining challenge. For example, doctors have been able to precisely identify genomic variants that are correlated with certain types of cancer, helping them to establish screening regimens for early detection. The ease of genome sequencing has transformed both basic biological research and nearly all areas of medicine. Today, an individual's genome can be sequenced in a day for $600, with some predicting that the $100 genome is not far behind. Human Genome Project, which produced the first draft of a human genome in 2000, took more than a decade and cost about $2.7 billion in total. Within the genome are sections of DNA called genes, many of which code for the production of proteins there are more than 20,000 genes in the human genome. The human genome (meaning the entire DNA sequence in each human cell) is composed of approximately 3 billion base-pairs. Those bases pair up to create what look like the rungs of a long and twisted ladder. DNA is composed of four types of nitrogen bases-adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C)-and the sequence of those bases determines the biological instructions in the DNA. Need a quick refresher on genetic engineering? It starts with DNA, the double-stranded molecule that encodes the instructions for all life on our planet. We're building safeguards into our system from the start to ensure that the platform isn't used to craft dangerous or pathogenic sequences. As genome writing and editing becomes more accessible, biosafety is a top priority. GP-write aims to take the next step in genetic literacy by enabling the routine "writing" of entire genomes, each with tens of thousands of different variations. GP-write, can be understood as a sequel to the Human Genome Project, in which scientists first learned how to "read" the entire genetic sequence of human beings. ![]() This is the first critical R&D step toward finding cures.ĭNA, the molecule that encodes instructions for life, is composed of four types of nitrogen bases, which pair up to create what look like the rungs of a twisted ladder. Enabling fast redesign of thousands of variants can only be achieved through automation at that scale, researchers just might identify the combinations of mutations that are causing genetic diseases. Based on how the cells grow, researchers can use the CAD program to iterate with a new batch of redesigned genomes, sharing data for collaborative efforts. Those fragments of synthesized DNA can then be sent to a foundry for assembly, and finally to a lab where the designed genomes can be tested in cells. With this CAD program, medical researchers will be able to quickly design hundreds of different genomes with any combination of mutations and send the genetic code to a company that manufactures strings of DNA. ![]() Genome Project-write (GP-write) conference. We believe that a key enabling technology in this quest is a computer-aided design (CAD) program for genome editing, which our organization is launching this week at the ![]() And without understanding the cause of a problem, it's pretty tough to find a cure. For some of these conditions, medical researchers have identified the exact mutations that lead to disease but in many more, they're still seeking answers. Many diseases are caused by mutations in the human genome, which can either be inherited from our parents (such as in cystic fibrosis), or acquired during life, such as most types of cancer. In the next decade, medical science may finally advance cures for some of the most complex diseases that plague humanity.
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