What I meant is changing the genetic code in ~all of the cells in a human body. Or some sort of genetic engineering which has the same effect as that.
Here’s one model I have as to how you could genetically engineer a living human:
Many viruses are able to reverse-transcribe RNA to DNA and insert that DNA into cells. This causes a lot of problems for cells, but there are (probably) large regions of the genome where insertions of new DNA wouldn’t cause problems. I don’t think it would be difficult to target insertion of DNA to those regions, as DNA binding proteins could be attached to DNA insertion proteins.
This sort of technology requires only the insertion of RNA into a cell. There are a number of ways to put RNA into cells at the moment, such as “edited” viruses, lipid droplets, and more might be developed.
I also believe targeting somatic stem cells for modification via cell-specific surface proteins is possible. If not we could also cause the modified cells to revert to stem cells (by causing them to express Yamanaka Factors etc.).
The stem cells will differentiate and eventually replace (almost all) unmodified cells.
The resulting technology would allow arbitrary insertion of genetic code into most somatic cells (neurons might not be direct targets but perhaps engineering of glia or whatever could do them). Using CRISPR-like technologies rather than reverse transcription we could also do arbitrary mutation, gene knockout, etc.
I guess this is still somewhat handwavey. Speculating on future technology is always handwavey.
I think it won’t be easy to modify the genome of individuals to achieve predictable outcomes even if you get the machinery you describe to work.
Is this because of factors like the almost-infinite number of interactions between different genes, such that even with a hypothetical magic technology to arbitrarily and perfectly change the DNA in every cell in the body, it wouldn’t be possible to predict the outcome of such a change? Or is it because you don’t think that any machinery will ever be precise enough to make this work well enough? Or some other issue entirely?
What I meant is changing the genetic code in ~all of the cells in a human body. Or some sort of genetic engineering which has the same effect as that.
Here’s one model I have as to how you could genetically engineer a living human:
Many viruses are able to reverse-transcribe RNA to DNA and insert that DNA into cells. This causes a lot of problems for cells, but there are (probably) large regions of the genome where insertions of new DNA wouldn’t cause problems. I don’t think it would be difficult to target insertion of DNA to those regions, as DNA binding proteins could be attached to DNA insertion proteins.
This sort of technology requires only the insertion of RNA into a cell. There are a number of ways to put RNA into cells at the moment, such as “edited” viruses, lipid droplets, and more might be developed.
I also believe targeting somatic stem cells for modification via cell-specific surface proteins is possible. If not we could also cause the modified cells to revert to stem cells (by causing them to express Yamanaka Factors etc.).
The stem cells will differentiate and eventually replace (almost all) unmodified cells.
The resulting technology would allow arbitrary insertion of genetic code into most somatic cells (neurons might not be direct targets but perhaps engineering of glia or whatever could do them). Using CRISPR-like technologies rather than reverse transcription we could also do arbitrary mutation, gene knockout, etc.
I guess this is still somewhat handwavey. Speculating on future technology is always handwavey.
No, it is fine. It clarifies what you have in mind and some ideas on how to achieve it, and it allows to elaborate on it or refute it.
I think it won’t be easy to modify the genome of individuals to achieve predictable outcomes even if you get the machinery you describe to work.
Is this because of factors like the almost-infinite number of interactions between different genes, such that even with a hypothetical magic technology to arbitrarily and perfectly change the DNA in every cell in the body, it wouldn’t be possible to predict the outcome of such a change? Or is it because you don’t think that any machinery will ever be precise enough to make this work well enough? Or some other issue entirely?
Yes. :-)