E-ISSN:2250-0758
P-ISSN:2394-6962

Research Article

Gene-Editing

International Journal of Engineering and Management Research

2025 Volume 15 Number 3 June
Publisherwww.vandanapublications.com

Gene Editing: A New Era in Medicine, Agriculture, and Ethics

Jadhav AM1*
DOI:10.5281/zenodo.15867650

1* Aarya Mahesh Jadhav, Department of Science, Holy Cross Convent High School and Junior College, Kalyan (W), Maharashtra, India.

Gene editing projects to a set of technologies that allow worldwide scientists to make corrections and changes in the DNA of a living organism. This ability correctly modifies genes in advanced fields like medicine and agriculture. In medicine, it finds out possibilities for curing genetic disorders, while on the other hand in farming practices, it holds credit for creating genetically modified crops that are more resistant to various diseases and environmental stresses. However, the ethical challenges on the society of gene editing remain a sign of concern, raising concerns about its potential misuse. This paper finds out the applications, capacity and logical considerations surrounding gene editing, with a focus on its impact in India.

 

Keywords: Gene-Editing, DNA, Resistant, Concern

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Aarya Mahesh Jadhav, Department of Science, Holy Cross Convent High School and Junior College, Kalyan (W), Maharashtra, India.
Email: 		Jadhav AM, Gene Editing: A New Era in Medicine, Agriculture, and Ethics. Int J Engg Mgmt Res. 2025;15(3):94-99.
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https://ijemr.vandanapublications.com/index.php/j/article/view/1772

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2025-05-16 2025-06-09 2025-06-23
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
None Nil Yes 2.55 None

© 2025 by Jadhav AM and Published by Vandana Publications. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

Int J Engg Mgmt Res 2025;15(3)94
Download PDFBack To Article1. Introduction2. Aim3. Literature
Review4. Overview
(Outlook) in
India5. ConclusionReferences
Jadhav A.M. Gene Editing

1. Introduction

Gene editing is one of the most revolutionary advancements in modern science. It allows scientists to make accurate changes to the DNA of living beings, which can help us lead to significant corrections in medicine, agriculture, and even environmental sustainability. This advancement has allowed us to open new innovative ideas for improving and curing genetic and hereditary disorders, creating pest resistant crops, and finding rational questions about the future of life itself.

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What is Gene Editing?

Gene editing is a technique used to alter the DNA of an organism. The most well-known method of gene editing is CRISPR-Cas9. CRISPR allows scientists to "cut" and "paste" pieces of DNA with high precision. This technology has made gene editing faster, cheaper, and more accessible than ever before.

Applications in Medicine
In medicine, gene editing holds credit for improving and curing diseases that are caused by genetic mutations, such as:

  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Sickle cell anaemia
  • Muscular dystrophy

For instance, scientists have successfully made use of gene editing to improve and change the gene of

the DNA responsible for a deadly disease known as sickle cell anaemia, offering hope and satisfaction to many people suffering by this disease. Gene editing also has the potential to create personalized and specific treatments for some types of cancer and other deadly diseases, making it possible to provide medical support to a person's genetic appearance.

Applications in Agriculture
Gene editing is also transforming farming practices to an Advanced level by editing the genes of crops, scientists can create plants and crops that provide more nutrition, are resistant to pests, and able to face extreme weather conditions. For instance, manipulation of genes in crops like drought-resistant wheat could help provide support in conditions like food shortages in areas facing changing climates.

Gene editing can also help reduce the need for harmful pesticides, Fertilizers and herbicides and lead to more sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices.

India, with its large population and pressing agricultural and healthcare needs, stands at the cusp of utilizing gene editing technologies. In medicine, India has a significant burden of genetic disorders, and gene editing could offer a potential solution to treat or even eradicate some of these diseases. In agriculture, where the country faces challenges related to food security, gene editing could lead to the development of drought-resistant, pest-resistant, and high-yielding crops. The potential for gene editing to address these issues makes it highly relevant to India’s future growth anddevelopment.

2. Aim

The aim of this paper is to find out the potential and hidden talents of gene editing in transformation of medicine, and agriculture, its importance in Indian farming practices, and the ethical challenges linked with its use and creation. this paper also aims to provide a brief study and understanding the topic of gene editing highlighting their applications and use, challenged, and the regulations needed to secure their safe and ethical use withinthesociety

3. Literature Review

1. The Science and Applications of CRISPR-Cas9 Technology


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  • Authors: Doudna, J. A., Charpentier, E.
  • Summary: This paper explains the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool's mechanism and its wide-ranging applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. It highlights CRISPR’s potential to revolutionize various fields.

2. Gene Editing in Medicine: CRISPR-Cas9 for Genetic Disorders

  • Authors: Frangoul, H., Altshuler, D., Walters, M. C.
  • Summary: Discusses CRISPR-Cas9’s potential in treating genetic disorders like sickle cell anaemia, focusing on clinical trials and future possibilities for curing hereditary diseases.

3. Ethical Considerations in CRISPR-Cas9 and Gene Editing

  • Authors: Jasanoff, S., Hurlbut, J. B.
  • Summary: Explores the ethical challenges of gene editing, particularly in humans. It addresses concerns about equity, social justice, and potential misuse in practices like eugenics.

4. Gene Editing in Agriculture: Applications and Prospects

  • Authors: Sedeek, K. E. M., Mahas, A., Mahfouz, M.
  • Summary: Focuses on CRISPR-Cas9's role in agriculture, including creating disease-resistant crops and improving food security. It also addresses public concerns over genetically edited crops.

5. CRISPR-Cas9: Transforming the Future of Medicine and Agriculture

  • Authors: Ran, F. A., Hsu, P. D., Wright, J., Zhang, F.
  • Summary: Reviews CRISPR’s potential in both medicine and agriculture, covering gene therapy for human diseases and genetic improvements in crops and livestock.

6. The Regulatory Landscape of Gene Editing: A Global Perspective

  • Authors: Barrangou, R., Doudna, J. A.
  • Summary: Discusses the global regulatory frameworks for CRISPR-Cas9, with emphasis on legal and ethical concerns surrounding germline editing and how different countries approach gene editing regulation.

7. Public Perception of CRISPR-Cas9 and Gene Editing: Challenges and Opportunities

  • Authors: Reddy, M. R., Shah, P.
  • Summary: Examines how public perception shapes the acceptance of gene editing technologies, highlighting the role of cultural and ethical considerations in shaping policy and implementation.

8. Gene Editing and its Potential Impact on Indian Agriculture

  • Authors: Kumar, S., Sharma, R.
  • Summary: Reviews the use of CRISPR-Cas9 in Indian agriculture, focusing on its potential to create drought-resistant crops and address food security challenges while navigating regulatory hurdles.

9. Ethical Issues Surrounding CRISPR and Germline Gene Editing

  • Authors: Liao, S. M.
  • Summary: Addresses the ethical issues related to germline editing in humans, particularly the risks of altering human embryos and the potential societal impact of such genetic modifications.

10. Regulatory Challenges and Prospects for CRISPR Technology in India

  • Authors: Sharma, A., Gupta, A.
  • Summary: Explores the regulatory challenges and opportunities India faces with CRISPR technology, emphasizing the need for clear policies to guide its safe and ethical use.

11. CRISPR and the Future of Disease Treatment

  • Authors: Porter, C. L., Smith, J. L.
  • Summary: Discusses the therapeutic applications of CRISPR, focusing on its use in treating genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, and the future challenges in scaling these treatments.

12. The Potential and Ethical Challenges of Gene Editing in Human Embryos

  • Authors: Cohen, I. G., Steinbock, B.
  • Summary: Investigates the ethical concerns regarding gene editing in human embryos, including the possibility of “designer babies” and the societal implications of editing human genetics.

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4. Overview (Outlook) in India

India's regulatory framework for gene editing is still on progress and shows benefits in stages While there have been positive revolutions in biotechnology research, the country lacks a clear, precise policy on the ethical use of gene editing technologies. Public participation and opinions remain mixed, with many scared that such technologies may be misused or lead to bad consequences. The Indian government, however, has confronted in facilitating gene editing for farming practices and medical advancements, with the Department of Biotechnology actively supporting research and development in this field. In medicine, India has supported to several hubs and research institutions that are finding out the proper beneficial potential of gene editing technologies

1. Growing Research and Development

  • Indian research institutes like ICAR, IARI, CCMB, and NIPGR are actively involved in CRISPR-Cas9 and other gene-editing research, especially for agriculture, human health, and livestock improvement.
  • Focus areas include disease resistance in crops, yield improvement, and therapeutic interventions for genetic disorders.

2. Government Initiatives and Policies

  • India has allowed gene-edited crops without foreign DNA (SDN-1, SDN-2 categories) to be regulated like conventional crops, easing the path for commercialization.
  • 2022 Guidelines from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) simplified regulation for gene-edited plants.
  • Department of Biotechnology (DBT) supports national programs to develop indigenous gene editing technologies.

3. Agricultural Applications

  • Development of climate-resilient crops like flood tolerant rice, disease-resistant wheat, and high-yield mustard.
  • Work is ongoing to create non-GMO-like crops to overcome concerns and regulatory resistance to GMOs.

4. Medical and Therapeutic Research

  • Early-stage research into gene editing for rare diseases like sickle cell anemia, beta-thalassemia, and some forms of cancer.
  • Institutions like CSIR-IGIB and private biotech startups explores gene editing for customized healthcare and cell therapies.

5. Private Sector Participation

  • Big companies and startups like Med Genome, MapMyGenome, and String Bio are emerging as frontiers to invest in genomics field and related gene editing fields.
  • Indian pharmaceutical giants are performing the function of exploration CRISPR-based therapies and merging with global companies.

6. Regulatory Challenges

  • Limitation of comprehensive, clear, and updated gene editing policy for human genes and embryos.
  • Ethical signs of concerns, biosafety issues, and people’s opinion remain barrier for broader enhancement.

7. Public encouragement and Ethical Implications

  • Lack of awareness among the common people about gene editing.
  • Ethical signs of concerns around germline editing, capability misuse in society, and social discrimination issues are being discussed at academic and policy levels.

8. Global participation

  • Indian researchers are emerging in global sectors and merging with countries in the USA, Europe, and Asia on gene editing projects.

9. Skill Development and Potential improvement

  • India is introducing many policies and in gene editing technologies at renowned sectors. for instance, IITs, IISc, and AIIMS.
  • Government-sponsored fellowships and grants to boost human resources in this sector.

10. Future Overview

  • India is preparing to become a major sector for affordable gene editing solutions, especially in farming practices and medical.
  • With proper framework and investment in unique ideas,

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    India is capable to make important contributions to global gene editing technology.

Crops Developed with the Help of Gene Editing:

  • Rice – lack of water -resistant and flood-control varieties improved.
  • Wheat – Wheat’s Gene is edited with the help of biotechnology for durable to powdery mildew (a fungal disease).
  • Tomato – shelf life is increased nutritional value is increased (like higher GABA content).
  • Corn (Maize) – Improved resistance against to pests and improved yield.
  • Soybean – Improved soyabean’s healthier oil content by changing fat composition (low trans-fat).

Medical Diseases Being Improved by Gene Editing:

  • Sickle Cell Disease – CRISPR technology is used to alter the faulty gene causing abnormal red blood cells.
  • Beta-Thalassemia – Gene editing is used to restore blood cells and produce more blood cells.
  • Cancer – Edited immune cells (CAR-T cells) used to target and kill cancer cells.
  • HIV – Gene editing explored to disable the CCR5 gene, making cells resistant to HIV infection.
  • Hereditary Blindness (Leber Congenital Amaurosis) – CRISPR therapy is applied to restore vision and treat this disease.

5. Conclusion

Gene editing signifies a new era of advancements in medicine and agriculture, with the capability to transform how we treat genetic diseases and grow various types of crops. However, ethical concerns and the capability or misuse must be carefully faced. India, with its unique challenges in medicine and agriculture, be a frontier to benefit greatly from the adoption of gene editing technologies. It is important, however, that this technology is supported by strong regulatory base and rules, and public confidence to ensure its ethical use and maximize its benefits for society.

References

[1] Doudna, J. A., & Charpentier, E. (2014). The new frontier of genome engineering with CRISPR-Cas9. Science, 346(6213), 1258096. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1258096.

[2] Frangoul, H., Altshuler, D., Cappellini, M. D., Chen, Y. S., Domm, J., Eustace, B. K., ... & Walters, M. C. (2021). CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing for sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia. New England Journal of Medicine, 384(3), 252–260. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2031054.

[3] Jasanoff, S., Hurlbut, J. B., & Saha, K. (2015). CRISPR democracy: Gene editing and the need for inclusive deliberation. Issues in Science and Technology, 32(1), 25–32.

[4] Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). (2019). National guidelines for gene therapy product development and clinical trials. https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/guidelines/GTP_Guidelines_2019.pdf.

[5] Zhang, F., Wen, Y., & Guo, X. (2014). CRISPR/Cas9 for genome editing: Progress, implications, and challenges. Human Molecular Genetics, 23(R1), R40–R46. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddu125.

[6] Sedeek, K. E. M., Mahas, A., & Mahfouz, M. (2019). Plant genome engineering for targeted improvement of crop traits. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10, 114. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00114.

[7] Ran, F. A., Hsu, P. D., Wright, J., Agarwala, V., Scott, D. A., & Zhang, F. (2013). Genome engineering using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Nature Protocols, 8(11), 2281–2308. https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2013.143.

[8] Adli, M. (2018). The CRISPR tool kit for genome editing and beyond. Nature Communications, 9(1), 1911. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04252-2.

[9] National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). Human genome editing: Science, ethics, and governance. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24623.

[10] Baringo, R., & Doudna, J. A. (2016). Applications of CRISPR technologies in research and beyond. Nature Biotechnology, 34(9), 933–941. https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3659.


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[11] Kumar, S., & Sharma, R. (2019). Gene editing: Current trends and applications in agriculture. Journal of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 118(6), 1353–1362. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.26915.

[12] Ledford, H. (2015). CRISPR, the disruptor. Nature, 522(7554), 20–24. https://doi.org/10.1038/522020a.

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