CRISPR: An Emerging Technology for Genome Editing
CRISPR is an abbreviation of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. In simpler words, it is a family of DNA sequences in bacteria and other microorganisms. These CRISPR sequences are a crucial component of the immune systems of such organisms, playing a vital role in the bacterial defense mechanism in comb8ination with a protein (Cas9) to modify the genes within the organisms. CRISPR falls under the most specific and commonly used gene editing techniques wherein major investment is taking place in the biotechnology industry.
What Is CRISPR?
CRISPR is an abbreviation of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. In simpler words, it is a family of DNA sequences in bacteria and other microorganisms. These CRISPR sequences are a crucial component of the immune systems of such organisms, playing a vital role in the bacterial defense mechanism in comb8ination with a protein (Cas9) to modify the genes within the organisms. CRISPR falls under the most specific and commonly used gene editing techniques wherein major investment is taking place in the biotechnology industry.
History of CRISPR?
First discovery of clustered DNA repeats was in 1987 at Osaka University in Japan. Followed with multiple of similar repeats in the next two decades, 3 independent research groups disclosed that CRISPR spacers can be derived from phage DNA and extrachromosomal DNA such as plasmids in 2005. Later in 2007, the first experimental evidence explaining that CRISPR is an adaptive immune system was published by researchers.puzzle-2500333_640
Further to these research, many researchers studied a simpler CRISPR system that relies on the protein Cas9. Two researchers – Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier re-engineered the Cas9 endonuclease into a more manageable two-component system by fusing the two RNA molecules into a “single-guide RNA” which further could find and cut the DNA target specified by the guide RNA when combined with Cas9.
Using CRISPR-Cas9 for the first time, Feng Zhang’s and George Church’s groups described genome editing in human cell cultures, which has been used in a wide range of organisms since then. CRISPR Therapeutics became the first to submit a clinical trial application to European regulators.
Applications of the CRISPR?
Industrial Applications
The industrial processes which utilize bacterial cultures can take advantage of the inherent functions of CRISPR system by employing the CRISPR based immunity to make them more resistant to the viral attack. Hence making these cultures more immune and avoid productivity impedance. Such industrial use for CRISPR came to light when Danisco (A company from food production industry) scientists were studying Streptococcus thermophiles bacterium to make yogurt and cheeses. Further similar other bacteria can be used with same principals to improve the culture sustainability and lifespan in the manufacturing industry.
Laboratory Applications
Scientists have harnessed CRISPR technology to make precise changes in the gene of various organisms and even human cells. Genes are the large sequences and a change in the sequence of even one gene could significantly affect the biology of any cell and further altering the health of an organism. CRISPR technology help scientists to modify specific genes which further helping them understand in various consequences in any particular organism. Scientists are designing RNA molecules to match specific DNA sequence instead of just relying on bacteria to generate the same. Such application can help scientists to make precise genetic animal models to study any treatment for human diseases.
Application in Treatments
CRISPR has been very helping in the potential treatment of various genetic disorders. The application is not only limited to the heritable disorder but also can provide a way to make more specific antibiotics for various diseases such as malaria, Huntington’s Disease, Duchenne Syndrome, HIV Infection and many more. However, the most importantly CRISPR technology it is widely used in the cancer research.
