Bio-Tech: Genetic Surgery Biomods

Genetic surgery may be performed on a fetus, child, or adult to repair defective genes or insert new ones. Genetic surgery cannot produce gross anatomical changes, but it may have subtle effects. For instance, it may alter the way a certain hormone is produced, with a marked effect on the recipient's behavior. At TL8, genetic surgery is usually used to replace defective or missing DNA sequences, repairing genes so that they can produce whatever missing enzymes or proteins caused a genetic disease. At TL9+, non-therapeutic genetic surgery techniques may be developed.

One technique used is the cell transplant. Cells are removed from the appropriate organ of the patient (e.g., bone marrow cells, if trying to modify how blood is produced). Gengineering techniques – usually tailored RNA viruses – are then used to introduce new genes into them, as described above. These altered cells are reintroduced into the patient, where they will hopefully thrive and replicate.

At TL8, the subject is given drugs to help his body accept the new cells (see Rejection and Immunosuppression, for the effects). At TL9+, cell implants are encapsulated in a specialized membrane that masks them from the immune system until they have become safely integrated into the body, while still allowing proteins to pass through – the advantage being that no immunosuppression treatments are needed. In some cases, the controlled release of cells is orchestrated by biochips.

In some cases, removing cells may not be necessary, and a modified RNA virus can simply be injected into the patient. This depends on how specific a change needs to be made, and how confident the genetic surgeons are in their ability to target the specific cells they want to alter.

Enhancements or therapies may be made hereditary if the modifications take the form of implanted artificial chromosomes. This is not difficult (it was achieved with mice in 1999). Such chromosomes can be passed on to offspring, but may cause birth defects unless both parents possess the extra chromosome. The problem is that as soon as any descendants breed with baseline individuals, the new chromosomes risk causing genetic defects. If the carrier of a genetic disease is treated by adding a new chromosome to mitigate or eliminate its effects, rather than by modifying the genes that cause the disease itself, that carrier may be unable to have children naturally without this risk.

Genetic surgery processes have a listed cost and time. The required time is spent in a hospital facility. During this period, genetic surgeons are taking cell samples, running tests, performing the actual RNA injections or cell transplants (often a series of them), waiting for modified cells to replicate, observing the results, and taking any necessary corrective measures. The patient will be confined to bed (often with diagnostic sensors attached), but conscious most of the time.

So what can you do with genetic surgery? Some of the many possible applications are described below.

Bio-Tech: Genetic Surgery Biomods

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