Using Nanoparticles in The Uterus to Cure Genetic Disorders

There is an estimation of about 8 million children that are born with genetic disorders or birth defects. If you have a bad gene from both parents, then a genetic disease forms. Using nanoparticles can cure a baby of any genetic disease while it's still in the uterus or the womb. An example is B. thalassemia. That is a type of genetic disease that occurs when only one gene is incorrect. Which also means that if one parent has a bad gene then the child will inherit the disorder. B. thalassemia is a blood disorder where people can’t produce hemoglobin (the molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen). Conclusion, the nanoparticle method can cure any disease that is caused by a DNA-copying mutation, such as sickle cell, Huntington’s disease, and cystic fibrosis.

Technique

First you’ll need an editor molecule, a donor DNA, and a specificity molecule. Donor DNA serves as a template and is used to replicate the mutated section of the gene. DNA replication to fetal animals is the best way to go so they genetically edit the mice before birth. Editor molecule physically breaks down the DNA backbone of the mutated gene and inserts the DNA in its place. It also makes permanent changes to DNA. Specificity molecules tell the editor where the DNA strand needs to be cut for our donor DNA to be added. They will use the cell's own DNA repair molecules to pick the right specificity molecule which would be the PNA. Then they would swap the donor DNA with the defected mice DNA. The peptide nucleic acids bind to the double stranded DNA. They Injected the PNA nanoparticles and donor DNA into the fetal mice and waited for results. The injected nanoparticles traveled to the liver which makes the cells that produce hemoglobin after a mouse is born. Check it six and ten weeks later for the result of the edited hemoglobin gene. The genetically modified mice will be cured because they will now have just as much hemoglobin as a healthy mouse. 

Opinion

Genetic disorders are very common, approximately 1 in 21 people contain a genetic disorder gene and 1 in 2,000 people obtain the actual disorder itself. Using nanoparticles to cure unborn babies in danger of contracting a genetic disorder could make a huge difference to society. First things first, this treatment could create quite a few jobs, but it could also create a lot of biases. I am saying this because if this treatment were made available to the public, it would most likely be very expensive. Millions of people suffer from sickle cell cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, B. thalassemia, and more. Learning a way to prevent offspring from having to deal with painful and chronic diseases could help a countless number of people worldwide. Consequently, it is unfair to those less fortunate who also want a better life for their children, so if and when it becomes available to the public, it should be affordable. Overall, the experiment was very fascinating. Knowing that there could be a cure to illnesses as common as genetic disorders will put smiles on plenty of faces. This experiment helps humanity by giving people the opportunity to give their offspring a better life. Most parents do not find out about a genetic disorder until after the baby is born, but this is an option for people who know about it ahead of time or are at high risk for delivering babies with a genetic disorder. The downside is if the cost for a treatment or procedure is too high, those who need it the most won't be able to afford it. This research will help my topic by providing information to an antidote that was very unexpected. Replacing the damaged DNA with a synthetic DNA strand is a cure for someone that has a bad gene from one or both parents. In conclusion, using nanoparticles in the uterus to cure genetic disorders is a good idea and could help millions.