The Commited JUNE 2025 | Page 37

TED ANTALYA COLLEGE / 10-B
The

COMMITTED

Innovations in Healthcare

Şimal ŞEKERSOY

The integration of artificial intelligence( AI) with geneediting technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 has the potential to dramatically transform healthcare by offering new ways to treat genetic disorders and prevent diseases. Although gene-editing has the capacity to correct genetic flaws, challenges such as off-target effects and inefficiency have limited its application. AI is now helping to overcome these hurdles by enhancing the accuracy and reliability of gene-editing processes.
One notable example of this synergy is CRISPR-GAN, a tool developed by Harvard University researchers that uses AI to predict and reduce off-target effects, ensuring that gene-editing is precise and targets the correct regions of the genome. Similarly, DeepCRISPR, a project from UC Berkeley, applies deep learning to predict which RNA sequences will work best for CRISPR, thereby minimizing errors during the editing process. These innovations are making gene-editing safer and more accurate, paving the way for its broader use in medicine.
In addition to improving gene-editing techniques, AI is also being used to address broader challenges in healthcare, particularly the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has put immense pressure on doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers, leading to increased burnout and emotional strain. AI can help reduce some of this pressure by automating repetitive tasks such as managing patient records, scheduling appointments, and processing billing. By handling these administrative duties, AI allows healthcare professionals to spend more time focusing on patient care, which can help alleviate stress and improve job satisfaction. AI-powered telemedicine platforms are also expanding access to healthcare, especially for people in rural or underserved regions, by facilitating remote consultations with medical professionals.
While the potential benefits of AI and gene editing are clear, they also raise important ethical concerns. One major issue is the possibility of germline editing, where changes to an individual’ s DNA could be passed down to future generations. The potential misuse of gene-editing technologies, such as creating genetically modified“ designer babies,” raises significant ethical questions. To address these concerns, it is critical to establish strong ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks to ensure that these technologies are used responsibly and fairly.
In summary, the integration of AI with gene-editing technologies offers transformative potential for healthcare, both in improving the precision of treatments and easing the mental strain on healthcare professionals. However, it is essential to carefully consider the ethical and regulatory challenges associated with these technologies to ensure that they are applied in a way that benefits society as a whole.