10 Most Important Scientific Discoveries Of 2019

10. Scientists Conducted The First Ever "In Body" Gene Editing Therapy

Gene editing has been accomplished in a number of ways over the years, but it has previously been limited to edits outside the body prior to being introduced. Typically, genes would be modified outside the body, then after they were fully cultured, they would be reintroduced. Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) was performed inside the body of a patient for the first time in February.

The trial was conducted by medical scientists working with Sangamo Therapeutics in Richmond, California. The therapy was done to alter the DNA of a patient with Hunter Syndrome, which is a rare genetic disorder capable of causing abnormalities in the skeleton, heart, and respiratory system.

A clinical trial of ZFN was conducted in the patient's body, which stands as a significant improvement on past therapies intent on modifying genes. Should the test prove effective at eliminating the disorder, it would boost the potential treatment options for patients suffering from incurable genetic conditions.

As it stands, this is only a first step in a process that will likely take many years to move into a treatment phase, and it may not fully succeed in the end. Still, it's important in moving gene editing forward in terms of speed and manner of care.