A APLICAÇÃO DA TÉCNICA DE EDIÇÃO DE GENOMAS CRISPR-CAS9 NA ENGENHARIA GENÉTICA: benefícios à ciência e sociedade e impasses éticos frente ao desconhecido, em especial na edição embrionária humana

Abstract

This paper describes the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technique in Genetic Engineering application, highlighting the advantage of its use for science and the benefits it can bring to society in contrast to the bioethical bottlenecks it faces at present, especially in experiments involving the manipulation of human germ line cells. Such an approach is justified by the fact that manipulating genetic materials nowadays is not something unattainable as it was considered a few decades ago and due to this possibility, facilitated by the development of CRISPR-Cas9, many ethical obstacles from sundry social spheres arise, creating a taboo that needs be overcome. The purpose of this work was to carry a bibliographic review out in scientific articles published in Pubmed, Google Scholar and SciELO, explaining from the discovery and its formulation for the edition of genetic materials, the results and benefits already achieved to the impacts it deal with on contemporary society, in particular the human embryos manipulation. The analysis showed how promising is the technique and the great gains that are provided by its use in gene manipulation and genetic studies, that even though in some experiments realized are dangerous, daring, risky and should be discussed currently and often barred, it is not considered unethical.