Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) gene editing, a form of' molecular scissors,' was used by a group of researchers to figure out how deletions in one part of the genome might impact the expression of surrounding genes.

The study, which was published in the journal Blood, will aid researchers in the development of new therapeutic methods for sickle cell disease, one of the world's most deadly genetic blood illnesses.

"Sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, a closely related disease, are both inherited genetic disorders that impact red blood cells," said University of New South Wales researcher Kate Quinlan.

"They're fairly frequent around the world — about 318,000 newborns are born with these problems every year, and haemoglobin abnormalities account for 3% of all fatalities in children under the age of five," Quinlan noted.

The illnesses are caused by genetic mutations, specifically a deficiency in the adult globin gene. The mutated genes have an impact on the development of haemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen throughout our bodies.

"Even if they have the mutations, children do not show illness symptoms when they are born because they are still expressing foetal globin, not adult globin. Because we have distinct haemoglobin genes that we express at various phases of development, this is the case "Quinlan explained.

"The symptoms begin to appear as foetal globin is turned off and adult globin is switched on, which occurs within around the first year of life," Quinlan explained.

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