Gene Editing Analysis

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

Humans have been genetically engineering organisms for nearly 10,000 years using traditional methods of modification—among these methods include selective breeding and crossbreeding. Though effective, these methods were unreliable and were only able to change certain traits. A lack of control over our genetic material proved to be a clear hindrance to our species; when harnessed, advancements in other fields of knowledge would be immeasurable. Once seen as an impossible task, scientists have been able to exploit genes and take control of them. CRISPR-Cas9 is a system that allows scientists to cleave off sections of DNA and artificially modify them by inserting a mutation into the place of the old DNA. This is exceptionally precise, whilst

Genome editing is a huge leap forward in science and medicine. Because of recent advances in technology, the study of genes and induced ‘point’ mutations have led to the discovery and advancement of methods previously used in order to mutate genes. The development of Clusters of Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR associated system 9 protein (Cas9) technology is a hugely significant leap forward as this is a tool that could potentially be used for the research into and hopefully the treatment of a range of medical conditions that are genetically related. Cystic fibrosis (Schwank, G. et al, 2013), haemophilia and sickle cell disease are an example of some of the conditions that have the

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

From the science community perspective, the CRISPR-Cas system could reduce or even eliminate many of the difficulties researchers face when gene editing such as cost, duration and accuracy. Prior to CRISPR-Cas, gene editing was performed in “big labs” with experts

Genome editing is still relatively new in the science world. It was only fairly recently that we gained the first ability to fix our DNA (Rajan). Genome editing is changing the DNA, which gives us the ability to change it for the better – which is not an easy thing to do (What Is Genome Editing?). In order to change the DNA, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are manipulated to improve the DNA (Hornblower, Reis, Robb, and Tzertzinis). A fracture is made in the DNA to modify it, in order to adjust the DNA to try to rid it of genetic diseases and abnormalities (What Is Genome Editing?). Then, a new sequence can be added into the existing DNA and be repaired (What Is Genome Editing?). This is the basic idea of the difficult genome editing. While complicated, once more progress is made and it becomes more successful, this process could work on a variety of diseases (What Is Genome Editing?).

Research shows that the average person can have hundreds of errors in their genetic code. Though these errors tend to leave the individual unharmed, many still suffer the consequences of faulty genes. Some of these consequences can be mild, such as color blindness. Other disorders, however, can cause extreme suffering for those affected. Genetic disorders such as Hemophilia, Progeria, Cystic Fibrosis, etc. cause a lifetime of misery for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. I want to be a part of the movement that not only improves the lives of those with genetic disorders but also works towards eliminating genetic disorders as a whole.

Biotechnology prompts a fear that humanity is gaining too much control over the choice of human evolution and destiny (McLean 1). CRISPR, “…the new fast, flexible, cheap way to manipulate the genetic code of life…” (Achenbach 1) exploits from the natural process used by ordinary bacteria to fend off against intrusive viruses while Cas (CRISPR-associated proteins), a set of enzymes, precisely snips DNA. CRISPR makes it simple to alter specific genes, resulting in many scientists beginning to use this new form of biotech for many of their experiments. Consequently, the editing of the

First, I will make the most of my education, so that I can be better equipped to help others in the future. I would like to go through medical school and continue my educational path into research. There have been major advancements in gene-editing technologies such as the CRISPR Cas9 system, which, once improved, could revolutionize the science of medicine. This system was developed from the immune systems of bacteria, and works by using homology-directed repair or/in addition to non-homologous end joining to delete portions of DNA. Cas9 is a protein that couples with an RNA sequence to form a complex, which searches through DNA and looks for a DNA sequence to match the RNA one. Once it finds it, Cas9 cuts

CRISPR has the possibility of revolutionizing medicine—fighting disease, curing cancer, and eliminating genetic diseases. One way in which CRISPR would fight against cancer, is achieved by removing the immune cells from a cancer patient. The cells would then be genetically modified using CRISPR—targeting the immune cells against the cancer—and then injected back into the patient. Another application to fight cancer involves editing genes to stop cancer cells from multiplying. These uses of CRISPR would be used to effectively fight cancer. Researchers using CRISPR have already reversed the mutations that cause blindness, cystic fibrosis, and hemophilia. Parents that are carriers of some genetic diseases would be able to treat the embryo with CRISPR in order to reverse these genes, resulting in a healthy child. These applications all have incredible outcomes; why are they not being pursued by all medical companies

A gene editing method called CRISPR, Science’s 2015 Breakthrough of the Year, is an easy and inexpensive way to cause the “DNA-cutting enzyme” to cut out specific parts of the DNA strand, therefore changing the genetic composition of an organism. Another way to use the CRISPR is to use it to deliver regulatory factors to successfully turn genes on or off and any level in between, which can help save lives by turning off deadly genes. CRISPR is currently being used for biomedical purposes, such as repairing genetic defects or creating tissue-based treatments. This genetic editing method could be used and is being used to change the very animals and plants that we know today by creating allergen-free peanuts or virus resisting pigs.

CRISPR Cas9 is a gene editing tool that can be used to edit, delete, and change parts of the genome. What makes CRISPR Cas9 different from other gene editing techniques such as Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) or Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALEN) is its targeting efficiency ability. For example, ZFNs and TALENs could only reach targeting efficiencies from 1% to 50% in human cells. On the other hand, CRISPR Cas9 had a much higher rate at greater than 70% in Zebrafish and plants. (Reis, 2014). CRISPR Cas9 is still being heavily researched by scientists today, because although many advancements have been made since its discovery in 1993, it is far from ready to be used commonly. Successful studies and experiments with this gene

Surrounded by patent and ethical issues lies a gene editing method with massive potential within the biotechnology industry. The CRISPR-Cas9 system works like ‘molecular scissors’ where Cas9 is an endonuclease that targets a specific DNA sequence (Griggs. 2015). This is more efficient than the previous methods such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), as well as being simpler to use. CRISPR-Cas9 uses single guided RNA (sgRNA) to reach the desired gene, where it is able to cleave the double stranded DNA in the presence of a Protospacer Adjacent Motif sequence (PAM sequence) (Ran et al. 2013). This is the stage where the gene can be altered via the cells own repair system due to the break in the DNA (Nehme et al. 2014). Solutions to sickle-cell anaemia, malaria and beta thalassemia are just a few of the life changing impacts this method could have in the future.

The CRISPR/CAS9 is a genome engineer technique that allows one to make somewhat precise cuts of DNA within three base pairs that then allows either the insertion or deletion of DNA. CRISPR stands for “Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”, CAS9 is but one variation of the CAS proteins, and Cas9 stands for “CRISPR associated protein 9”. Cas9 is a protein that induces site-directed double strand breaks in DNA. The CRISPR/CAS9 uses a guide RNA to recognize complementary 20 nucleotide base pairs to the spacer region of the guide RNA. If the DNA is complementary to the guide-RNA, the Cas9 cleaves the DNA, allowing a portion of the genome to be deleted hence it can create a knock out gene. CRISPR/CAS 3, 9 and 10 were discovered in archaea and bacteria and they were felt to be the adaptive immune system of bacteria and archaea against bacterial phages and F-plasmids and viruses. It is considered an adaptive immune system since they discovered that bacteria with resistance to multiple phages had multiple inserts that offered immunity and in particular it was this Cas 3,9 and 10 protein that offered immunity by cleaving out the invading DNA. The technique is much more complicated than Jennifer Doundna explained in her TedTalk. However, it much less complicated than say using Zinc fingers or TALENS for

The last few decade, technology has made so much progress that today humans are allowed to do things that never even crossed their mind, modifying the plants and animals and all that progress is for the benefit of humans. Technology has made a great impact in business, communication, education, healthcare, etc. Today in the healthcare, medical research has become extremely advanced, and every disease seemingly has a cure or at least a prevention; it has advanced with the discovery of many drugs and medications that have helped prevent many deadly diseases and disorders at also has advanced with a medical technique that can help cure many diseases. A revolutionary genome-editing tool known as CRISPR- Cas9 is based on something that bacteria do naturally. About a decade ago, scientists realized that bacterial cells possess a defense system that recognizes and chops up the DNA of invading viruses. This revolutionary genome tool could be able to eliminate cancer, malaria, cure blindness, edit human, etc. According to crazy-things-we-can-do-with-crispr-cas9 published by Jay Bennett in Jan 26, 2016 people are already using the tool to make changes to organisms that could revolutionize agriculture, lead to new treatments for diseases with no cure, or even modify human embryos.