CRISPR And Cancer: A Case Study

Mullis came to light. This technology seemed to to hold a promise that it would end human suffering, that it would be the road to a perfect world, where diseases were no longer a threat and pesticides would become an archaic method of the past. This new technology was called PCR, and it was the earliest form of gene editing. Fast forward to today, where another great leap in the science of gene editing has just occurred - one that might be exactly what everyone thought PCR would turn into. This leap has been dubbed CRISPR, and its capabilities make PCR look like, well, nothing. CRISPR uses a device originally found in bacteria called CAS-9 to precisely snip a targeted area of an organism's genome and replace it with the correct gene. CRISPR is by all accounts an amazing technology, but there are some who think it should not be used. CRISPR has

CRISPR is a new gene-modifying tool that has the potential to treat numerous medical conditions by editing genes that are responsible for certain diseases. This technology is based on the ability of bacteria to destroy the DNA of invading viruses. Studies have suggested that this new technology can be applied to human cells, although the idea of chopping up regions of the human genome can be unethical and could even be harmful. In order for the treatment to be administered to a patient, a small piece of RNA and an enzyme that makes a cut in the DNA are delivered to the cells. A biotechnology company, known as Editas Medicine, located in Cambridge, MA, is already designing treatments for conditions of the blood and the eye using CRISPR. For

CRISPR is a technology that allows DNA sequence to be altered in a precised manner in order to avoid genetic mutations that may lead to different diseases. It works by the action of the protein called Cas9 that acts as a molecular scalpel. Cas9 has the ability to detect which parts of the DNA are defective. After it determines where that part is, it attaches itself to it and after a series of chemical reactions, it cuts it right at the spot of the malfunctioned DNA. Sometimes, a new DNA can be attached to it so that the cell can work properly again.

In “Life the Remix,” Alice Park discusses the impact and influence CRISPR has on science as well as its potential and risks. CRISPR—“clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”—is a technique to alter DNA, virtually for anything involving DNA. Although there have been attempts to edit DNA, none were as cheap and simple as CRISPR. This technique, which is based on the immune system of a bacetria, revolutionizes genetics after the subsequent discoveries of the molecular scissors enzyme: Cas9 and a method to efficiently and accurately edit human DNA using CRISPR, explains Park.

CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat, referring to the repeating DNA sequences found in the genomes of microorganisms. CRISPR technology allows scientists to make precise changes in genes by splicing and replacing these DNA sequences with new ones. Through these changes, the biology of the cell is altered and possibly affects the health of an organism. The possibilities are endless as this offers opportunities in curing deadly diseases, modifying genes, and changing humanity as we know it. Although bioengineering has been around since the 1960s, CRISPR is significant because of the comparative low costs and the ease of the procedure to

Crispr is based on a natural system used by the bacteria to protect themselves from the infection by viruses. When the bacterium detects the presence of a viral DNA, it produces 2 types of short RNA. One of which contains a sequence that matches that of the invading viral DNA. These 2 RNAs form a complex protein called Cas9. Cas9 is a nuclease, a type of enzyme that can cut DNA. When the matching sequence, known as the guide RNA, finds the target within the viral genome, the Cas9 cuts the target DNA, disabling the virus. But this procedure can be used for any DNA sequence at a precise location by changing the guide RNA to match the

And one of the top factors in determining the viability of genetic engineering is its accuracy. In an article reported by the Interdisciplinary Center for Studies on Bioethics at the University of Chile, it was found that CRISPR has “a high frequency of off target effects…in human cells” (Rodriguez). With a high threshold for error, CRISPR does not appear to be reliable yet, at least to researchers at the University of Chile. Ethically, this raises concerns about CRISPR being an option for usage in people due to its potential risks. Genetic engineering is far more complex than any other type of medical treatment out there, so if any type of error were to occur, it would be extremely difficult to fix. Sharon Begley, a journalist for STAT news who interviewed doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital, reported that “one concern about off-target effects is that genome-editing might disable a tumor-suppressor gene or activate a cancer-causing one” (Begley). This concern was later found to be true in a separate study performed on mice by a post-doctoral colleague of UC Berkeley’s Jennifer Doudna, where CRISPR “gave rise to mutations, creating a model for human lung cancer” (Bioethics). This study provides cold-hard evidence for the journalist’s claim that even the slightest mutation can lead to cancer.

With the use of CRISPR, a specific gene in the genome of a cell can be targeted and mutated to rid of the preexisting mutation. The technique works through the use of an enzyme called Cas9, which acts as the “scissors” to cut two strands of DNA at a specific location in the genome to allow for pieces of DNA to be added or removed. Another molecule of use in the process is a piece of RNA called guide RNA (gRNA). Guide RNA comprises of a small piece of pre-designed RNA sequence located within a longer RNA strand. This longer RNA strand binds to DNA and the pre-designed sequence guides the Cas9 to the correct part of the genome. This occurs for the assurance that the Cas9 enzyme cuts the right part of the genome out. The article provides specific cancers and genetic diseases and the targets for CRISPR/Cas9 that act on these mutations. Amongst the cancers, lung, thyroid, and breast cancer was mentioned. The genetic diseases mentioned were Huntington disease, Alzheimer’s and muscular

Imagine a world where we can control genetics. What if we had the opportunity to eliminate all genetic diseases in just a few steps. Imagine a society where anyone could flip through a catalog to shop for traits to “design” their child. This may seem a little far fetched, however this imagined world may soon become possible through the rapid advancing development of genetic engineering. New and advanced technology has finally made it possible to access and hack the human genome. New gene editing technology called CRISPR Cas-9 has completely transformed the biomedical field. CRISPR Cas-9 is cheap, precise, efficient and ultimately works on all living organisms. Advanced genetic technology that have allowed us to genetically modify our food and clone sheep, may one day give parents the option to modify their own children. However the idea of one day creating “designer babies” sparks great controversy.

CRISPR has been used on animals before but, the real question is should we use CRISPR on humans? According to the Board Institute CRISPR stand for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, which are the hallmark of a bacterial defense system that forms the basis for CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology.

CRISPR-Cas9 is making many advances in the medical and science field with changing genes in babies and plants. By doing this, doctors and scientists are able to get rid of diseases and human viruses in animal zygotes, human cells, and human embryos. CRISPR-Cas9 is making it easier to get rid of certain genetic disorders and deadly human diseases in babies. In doing this, we can lessen the chance of the spread of certain diseases. Which in turn can keep the world population on the ultimate rise.

The practical uses for CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and other nuclease gene editing methods extend to animals as well. There are many proposed uses of the technology that need to be considered according to their associated risks and benefits. The first of which is the use of CRISPR to knock out genes associated with horn development in dairy cattle (Cima, 2016). Animals with horns present a hazard to animals kept in the same enclosure as them and to the workers that handle them. Only a small percentage of dairy cattle are born without horns, the rest need to have their horns removed. The horn removal process is considered inhumane and causes the animal a lot of pain according to animal rights activists. Using the modern gene editing tools scientists are able to reduce the suffering of animals while still protecting other cattle and their handlers. Traditional breeding methods have failed to produce a hornless cow while preserving the Holsteins ' large milk production (Staropoli, 2016).

This paper is going to focus on the Cas9 system. Cas9 has a general mechanism of how it works and operates. Further studies and modification to the system have introduced more ways for Cas9 to work. The general mechanism is cleaving the DNA intended DNA portion out of the host genome. This was the original defense mechanism used by bacteria against viruses. In this system, small RNA pieces seek out matching DNA sequences tell the Cas9 where to start cutting the DNA that was inserted by the virus. After the DNA had been cut it was put back together by repairing mechanisms called non homologous end joining (NHEJ) which will be explained later in the paper. One variation of this mechanism is called “nicking”. This modified the Cas9 nuclease to only cut one strand of DNA at a time. The benefit of nicking is that you are able to get a more specific cut of the DNA strand. Two mutations in the nuclease that are relevant for this mutation are. Not only does CRISPR Cas 9 cut out genes it has also been modified for turning on fluorescence. Another function Cas9 can do is break open DNA to make it possible for the insertion of more genes. All of these

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated (Cas) protein 9 is a type II CRISPR system that is an adaptive immunity mechanism acquired by bacteria to protect it from viruses and phage. Utilization of this process could have the potential to revolutionise medicine due to its genome editing capabilities. CRISPR-Cas9 can act as an exceptional tool for functional genomics which can allow us to understand phenotypic and physiological elements of disease. This understanding can allow development of drugs and targeted therapies for diseases such as HIV and cancer through complete removal or replacement of a gene. CRISPR-Cas9 technology cannot be deemed revolutionary

The mutations that CRISPR-Cas9 can create seem as if they came out of an X-Men movie. First of all, Akpan and Sarabia write,” Even though CRISPR-Cas9 is one of the best marksmen to-date in terms of editing, an off-target mutation in a reproductive cell opens the door to a heritable mutation being introduced into society.” With designer babies using CRISPR-Cas9, a genetic tool to modify DNA by separating the two strands of DNA and making changes to either side,