Preliminary Discussion Questions

What do you know about genetic disorders in newborns?

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A Disorder is when there is a condition that can affect your health. (Spanish: Trastorno)

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Have you heard of CRISPR or gene editing before? What do you understand about it?

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CRISPR is a gene-editing technology derived from the natural immune system of bacteria.

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What ethical considerations might arise when editing a baby's DNA?

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Arise: Surgir, aparecer

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Why do you think this medical achievement is considered a "first"?

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A first: When something has never happened before

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What do you think are the potential risks and benefits of personalized gene therapy?
How might this breakthrough impact the future of medical treatments?

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Breakthrough: an advancement or achievement in a particular field such as science, medicine…

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US doctors rewrite DNA of infant with severe genetic disorder in medical first

Gene-editing breakthrough has potential to treat array of devastating genetic diseases soon after birth, scientists say

Doctors in the US have become the first to treat a baby with a customised gene-editing therapy after diagnosing /dayagnousing/ the child with a severe /se-vir/ genetic disorder that kills about half of those affected in early infancy.

International researchers have hailed the feat as a medical milestone, saying it demonstrates the potential for treating an array of devastating /dévasteiting/ genetic diseases by rewriting faulty DNA soon after affected children are born.

Specialists at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania started work as soon as the boy was diagnosed and completed the complex design, manufacture and safety testing of the personalised therapy within six months.