Key points from article :
Scientists found a way to functionally cure beta thalassaemia and sickle cell disease.
Harvested bone marrow stem cells from people with thalassaemia and sickle cell disease.
Edited and inactivated the gene that is responsible for turning off fetal haemoglobin production.
Killed the remaining bone marrow cells using chemotherapy and replaced them with edited cells.
Edited stem cells produced red blood cells with fetal haemoglobin instead of faulty haemoglobin.
Because they have fetal hemoglobin they do not show symptoms or require blood transfusions.
Ongoing trial by Sarah Cannon Research Institute, CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex.
