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Science can now do surgery on embryos to remove disease; here's what you need to know on this contro
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If you could prevent inherited diseases in your unborn child, would you? - photo by Wendy Jessen
Parents would do anything to protect their child and keep them safe. But how would you feel about altering them before birth to prevent a disease?

Scientific advances

According the BBC News, Chinese researchers have found a way to perform "chemical surgery" on human embryos to remove disease. Using lab-made embryos, they removed the disease beta-thalassemia by altering fundamental building blocks of DNA adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine, or A, C, G, and T. Those four encoded bases are responsible for building and running the human body, according to the article.

The disease that was edited out is "a blood disorder that reduces the production of hemoglobin...the iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells throughout the body", according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. People who have beta thalassemia can lack oxygen in many parts of the body due to low hemoglobin levels.

The researchers found the error in the DNA and then converted the G to an A, which corrected the fault. "We are the first to demonstrate the feasibility of curing genetic disease in human embryos by base editor system," stated researcher Junjiu Huang. Furthermore, Huang said that the study makes it possible to treat patients and prevent beta-thalassemia in babies, and potentially, other genetic diseases.

Controversy

However, before moving forward, more research must be done. While this may be exciting news, it's also bringing "deep ethical and societal debate about what is and is not acceptable in efforts to prevent disease."

Prof Robin Lovell-Badge, from the Francis Crick Institute in London, said we probably won't be seeing these procedures performed anytime soon. "There would need to be far more debate, covering the ethics, and how these approaches should be regulated.

"And in many countries, including China, there needs to be more robust mechanisms established for regulation, oversight, and long-term follow-up."

While this breakthrough is intriguing and hopeful, more research must happen to alleviate the unknown risks and potential complications. Eradicating one disease while causing other problems may not be very beneficial. Additionally, making sure testing is done ethically is important.

Perhaps we are one step closer to curing inherited diseases, similar to how vaccines have curbed outbreaks of infectious and dangerous illnesses, but the issue of ethics still remains:

If money was not an issue, would you consider opting for this "chemical surgery" to prevent disease in your child?
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Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
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Better than almost every face-melting guitar or drum solo. - photo by Facebook video screenshot

THE BIG EASY — Yeah, yeah, we all know that New Orleans is stuffed to the gills will incredible musicians.

But knowing that fact and then hearing that fact are two different things. You can step into any number of jazz clubs on any given night on Bourbon Street, and you’ll probably be impressed with virtually every act. Or you can sit at home on your comfy couch and watch this featured video.

In the video, you’ll see a woman who is in the groove. She is swinging hard, and wailing on her clarinet with a practiced expertise that makes it sounds so easy.

From note one you’ll be drawn in; your appreciation will grow with every second, and then your face will melt off when you realize how incredible she really is.

If you’ve never played a woodwind or a brass, you may not know everything that comes with a performance like this. Lung capacity and breath control are huge factors in keeping your notes clear and loud, and hitting those high notes is especially difficult.

So when this woman hits that high note and holds it for several seconds, you know you’re dealing with an exceptional musician. It means she has worked hard for years to develop skill on top of her natural talent, and we get to benefit.

It kinda makes you wonder how we let people get away with mumble rap and autotune when talent like this exists in the world.

I wish this video were longer, and I wish I had more information about this woman, but as it is, we’ll just have to appreciate the little flavor of New Orleans jazz posted by the Facebook group Clarinet Life.

Street musician killing it on clarinet

She must have lungs of iron! Its inspiring hearing the upper registers being played so well.

Posted by Clarinet Life on Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Martha Ostergar is a writer who delights in the ridiculous that internet serves up, which means she's more than grateful that she gets to cruise the web for amazing videos to highlight for your viewing pleasure.
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