Scientists edited genes in a living person and saved his life

Post by nyc_data_geek1 » Sat, Dec 27, 2025, 10:01 PM UTC

EthanHeilman wrote: post #13

gigatexal wrote: post #7

What worries me is the attacks on universities and the breaking of public private research based on this comment from the article: "In a race against time, scientists and doctors across the U.S. developed the first in vivo gene therapy, thanks to decades of medical research."

With Trump it appears a window is closing on the development of important technologies and research. I doubt we will enter a new dark age, but in some areas, progress is likely to slow, which in turn will be used as evidence that it isn't worth funding, which will cause funding cuts and result in even slower progress. Everyone is racing to get stuff done, because there might not be the money tomorrow. It seems likely…

Post by pinkmuffinere » Sat, Dec 27, 2025, 10:05 PM UTC

c1ccccc1 wrote: post #20

dlcarrier wrote: post #6

There was a guy on YouTube who genetically engineered himself to gain lactose tolerance. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3FcbFqSoQY ) It lasted for around a year and a half ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoczYXJeMY4 ) before the effect mostly wore off. He took it orally, so it only affected his intestinal lining, and I presume it didn't effect enough stem cells to get a permanent effect, but it would still be u…

̶I̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶u̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶g̶e̶n̶e̶t̶i̶c̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶e̶n̶g̶i̶n̶e̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶g̶u̶t̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶t̶e̶r̶i̶a̶ ̶r̶a̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶o̶w̶n̶ ̶c̶e̶l̶l̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶,̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶?̶ EDIT: Above is false. Went back and checked and I had mis-remembered the video.

Post by probe » Sat, Dec 27, 2025, 10:42 PM UTC

Post by thrance » Sat, Dec 27, 2025, 10:50 PM UTC

dlcarrier wrote: post #6

There was a guy on YouTube who genetically engineered himself to gain lactose tolerance. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3FcbFqSoQY ) It lasted for around a year and a half ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoczYXJeMY4 ) before the effect mostly wore off. He took it orally, so it only affected his intestinal lining, and I presume it didn't effect enough stem cells to get a permanent effect, but it would still be u…

Post by c1ccccc1 » Sat, Dec 27, 2025, 11:04 PM UTC

pinkmuffinere wrote: post #23

c1ccccc1 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

̶I̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶u̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶g̶e̶n̶e̶t̶i̶c̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶e̶n̶g̶i̶n̶e̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶g̶u̶t̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶t̶e̶r̶i̶a̶ ̶r̶a̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶o̶w̶n̶ ̶c̶e̶l̶l̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶,̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶?̶ EDIT: Above is false. Went back and checked and I had mis-remembered the video.

From the video, it sounds like he engineered his own cells. Using a virus that is known for transferring genetic material into other organisms, he added a gene for producing lactase, and then ate it. I suppose that would affect both his gut bacteria and his own cells. But it lasted for ~1.5 years, which probably indicates that it truly was his cells. Also he seems to know what he's talking about, and he claims it was…