The human genome is basically a set of genetic instructions for the human body. Within it are encoded plans for how a body will function, and what the body will look like. Depending on the person’s genome, it could give them curly hair, athletic abilities, or certain personality traits. However, the human genome also contains predispositions to disease, such as Alzheimer's, and other incurable ailments. Currently, there is nothing anyone can do to prevent these diseases, but because of Kathy Niakan and her research, certain diseases might be preventable in the future.
Kathy Niakan spent more than a decade rigorously studying cell developments in humans, as well as cell potency. In 2016, she was named in the top 100 most influential people in the world by the TIMES magazine for her work in stem cell biology. Her work has helped improve human conditions, and allowed humans to discover more about what they are made up of, and what could happen to them in the future. She is currently the group leader at the Francis Crick Institute, in London, England. A few months ago, she requested a license to edit human embryos for research, and after being granted permission, Niakan became the first in the world to gain laboratorial access to editing authentic human embryos.
Niakan’s current study helps in the discovery of how the human genome can be manipulated to aid in the prevention of life-threatening diseases, and better prepare people for a healthier, and
Meet Kathy Niakan; the First Scientist Licensed
to Edit Human Embryos
By Christina L.