What is the CRISPR system and how does it work? The CRISPR system is frequently used as a general term to refer to genome editing, but it is the c...

What is the CRISPR system and how does it work?

The CRISPR system is frequently used as a general term to refer to genome editing, but it is the coupling of CRISPR and the Cas9 system that allows for selective deletion of DNA.
Cas9 is an enzyme that cuts DNA, and CRISPR is a collection of DNA sequences that tell Cas9 exactly where to cut.
Biologists need to provide Cas9 with the correct sequence, called guide RNA, and then it can cut pieces of DNA sequences in the genome wherever they want.
According to Zhang, with CRISPR/Cas9, it is theoretically possible to modify the genome of any animal under the sun, including humans.
CRISPR may one day be the cure for various genetic diseases, but genetic manipulation is a delicate ethical issue and something far from becoming common in our daily lives.
Recent news of human embryo editing has brought CRISPR into the spotlight as a future medical treatment.
However, focusing only on medicine is thinking too small. Genetic engineering has the potential to not only change us but also change the entire world and all its ecosystems.