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What is CRISPR?
CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a technology that holds great promise for revolutionizing the treatment of various diseases.
CRISPR technology is derived from a natural defense mechanism found in bacteria. Bacteria use CRISPR sequences to remember and defend against viral attacks. When a virus invades, the bacteria capture fragments of the virus’s DNA and insert them into their own genome in a specific pattern, known as CRISPR arrays.
Scientists have harnessed this natural process to develop CRISPR-Cas9, a system that can be programmed to target specific sequences of DNA. The CRISPR-Cas9 system consists of two key components: the Cas9 enzyme, which acts as molecular scissors to cut DNA, and a guide RNA (gRNA), which directs Cas9 to the precise location in the genome that needs to be edited.
Applications of CRISPR
Genetic Diseases
One of the most promising applications of CRISPR is in the treatment of genetic diseases. Many conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and sickle cell anemia, are caused by mutations in a single gene. CRISPR allows for the correction of these mutations at the DNA level, potentially curing the disease at its source.
Cancer Treatment
Traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can be effective but often come with severe side effects. CRISPR provides an opportunity to develop more targeted therapies by editing the genes of cancer cells to make them more susceptible to treatment or to enhance the body’s immune response against them.
Potential Risks
CRISPR is not fully explored yet, and as any new technology, it could pose some unknown risks. Also, this technology raises ethical questions, particularly regarding "designer babies" and the ethical implications of altering human traits.
Video for a better understanding of CRISPR technology:
References:
Subica, A. M. (2023). CRISPR in Public Health: The health equity Implications and Role of Community in Gene-Editing Research and Applications. American Journal of Public Health, 113(8), 874–882. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2023.307315
Applications of CRISPR in medicine. https://www.biocompare.com/Editorial-Articles/593658-Applications-of-CRISPR-in-Medicine/
Sufian, S., & Garland-Thomson, R. (2024, February 20). The dark side of CRISPR. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-dark-side-of-crispr/
How CRISPR lets you edit DNA - Andrea M. Henle. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tw_JVz_IEc
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