Quantum Supremacy by Michio Kaku

Author:Michio Kaku [Kaku, Michio]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK
Published: 2023-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

CRISPR

The therapeutic applications of quantum computers may be increased when combined with a new technology called CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), which allows scientists to cut and paste genes. Quantum computers can be used to identify and isolate complex genetic diseases, and CRISPR might be used to cure them.

Back in the 1980s, there was enormous enthusiasm about gene therapy, i.e., repairing broken genes. There are at least 10,000 known genetic diseases afflicting the human race. There was a belief that science would enable us to rewrite the code of life, correcting the mistakes of Mother Nature. There was even talk that gene therapy might be able to enhance the human race as well, improving our health and intelligence at the genetic level.

Much of the early research was focused on an easy target: attacking genetic diseases that are caused by a misspelling of a few letters in our genome. For example, sickle cell anemia (which afflicts many African Americans), cystic fibrosis (which affects many northern Europeans), and Tay-Sachs (which affects Jewish people) are caused by the misspelling of one or a few letters in our genome. There was hope that doctors would be able to cure these diseases by simply rewriting our genetic code.

(Because of intermarrying, these genetic diseases were so prevalent in the royal families of Europe that historians have written that they even affected world history. King George III of England suffered from a genetic disease that rendered him mad. Historians have speculated that his insanity may have led to the American Revolution. Also, the son of Nicholas II of Russia was afflicted with hemophilia, which the royal family believed could only be treated by the mystic Rasputin. This paralyzed the monarchy and delayed needed reforms, which might have contributed to the Russian Revolution of 1917.)

These genetic engineering trials were conducted in a similar way to immunotherapy. First the desired gene was inserted into a harmless virus, modified so that it could not attack its host. Then the virus would be injected into the patient, so the patient was infected with the desired gene.

Unfortunately, complications soon arose. For example, the body would often recognize the virus and attack it, causing unwanted side effects for the patient. Many of these hopes for gene therapy were dashed in 1999 when a patient died after a trial. Funds began to dry up. Research programs were drastically scaled back. Trials were reexamined or halted.

But more recently, researchers had a breakthrough when they began to look closely at how Mother Nature attacks viruses. We sometimes forget that viruses attack not only people, but also bacteria. So doctors asked a simple question: How do bacteria defend themselves against the onslaught of viruses? Much to their surprise, they found that, over millions of years, bacteria have devised ways to cut up the genes of the invading virus. If a virus tries to attack a bacteria, the bacteria may counterattack by releasing a barrage of chemicals that split the genes of the virus at precise points, thereby stopping the infection.

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