24/12/2021
CRISPR-Cas9 Cuts and Edits Specific Genes‼
Now, a tool called CRISPR-Cas9 promises to revolutionize selective breeding process. Rather than inducing random mutations throughout an entire genome, CRISPR-Cas9 allows researchers to edit specific genes. Moreover, it applies to all kinds of organisms—not just plants.
How does CRISPR-Cas9 work? In its simplest form, the tool has two parts. One component is Cas9, an enzyme that cuts double-stranded DNA. The other is a short piece of “guide RNA” that binds to complementary DNA and shows Cas9 exactly where to cut. After the cut is complete, the next steps depend on the researcher’s objectives. Paired with other DNA technology tools, CRISPR-Cas9 can turn a gene off or add new DNA to it. Because researchers can design the guide RNA to bind to and cut any short sequence of DNA, CRISPR-Cas9 allows for unprecedented precision in genome editing.
CRISPR-Cas9 may someday help medical researchers fix the broken genes that trigger cancer and other illnesses. Or they may improve the body’s ability to fight cancer. Technicians might extract a cancer patient’s immune system cells and alter the DNA so the cells attack molecules that are unique to the patient’s tumors. Once returned to the patient’s body, the modified cells would be primed to attack the cancer.
Gene Editor. (1) To use CRISPR-Cas9, the researcher first determines the sequence of the DNA to be edited. (2) A short “guide RNA” molecule, complementary to the target DNA, is added to the cell. (3) Cas9 binds to the guide RNA and cuts the DNA. (4) The researcher can pair CRISPR-Cas9 with other tools that complete the editing process
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