CRISPR-Cas9: A Revolutionary Tool in Genetic Engineering

How CRISPR-Cas9 works and impacts the world

Over the past few years, researchers discovered the perfect genome‐editing tool to alter a
genomic sequence efficiently, CRISPR-Cas9. CRISPR-Cas9 is a genetic engeineering technology that
enables editing parts of the genome and it works by using Cas9. Cas9 is a nuclease, a type of enzyme that
can cut the DNA. Genome editing is a type of genetic engineering where any DNA sequence that fit the
warning copy of RNA is cut by changing the guide RNA to match the target. CRISPR-Cas9 is improving
rapidly and expected to have many applications in basic research, drug and agriculture development,
treating human patients with genetic diseases, and perhaps eventually, the creation of people with desired
features. These methods are applied to genetic engineering technologies, largely, somatic gene editing:
genetic medication altering DNA sequences not applied to the next generation, germ-line gene editing:
genetic medication changing permanent diseases for the next generation, gene drive: genetic technology
used for the extinction of some insect species affecting new generations, and GMOs: genetically modified
organism(GMO), a creature whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.
In order to help cure or reduce symptoms for individuals with diseases with genetic causes, the
CRISPR method is used in somatic gene editing or gene therapy by bacteria protecting themselves from
infections by viruses. When the bacterium detects a virus' DNA, it stores parts of the invader’s DNA to its
own DNA and gives it to Cas9 when it comes back. If Cas9 detects an invader with the warning copy, it
cuts it out. Then, the bacterium produces two types of short RNA, allowing one of them to invade the
virus. Cas9 carries an instruction of these RNAs, which fits perfectly in a part of the invader’s DNA. The
4 letters of RNA help Cas9 to find a unique DNA sequence. When the matching sequence, known as a
guide RNA, finds its target within the viral genome, the Cas9 cuts the target DNA, disabling the virus,
and matches it to its target RNA. If the match is complete the Cas9 will cut the DNA with two tiny
molecular scissors. Once the CRISPR system has made a cut, this DNA template can pair up with the cut
ends, recombining and replacing the original sequence with the new version. RNA is easily made and
exchangeable by scientists, which leads to being able to cut any DNA parts by changing the RNA.
However, there are minimal but impactive off‐target effects; this could lead to random mutations
that can disable the gene when the cell tries to repair the cut, causing error-prones. Therefore, researchers
need to be more precise, for example, replacing a mutant gene with a healthy copy. This can be done by
adding another piece of DNA that carries the desired sequence.
CRISPR-Cas9 is not only used in somatic gene editing, but also in germ-line gene editing, gene
drive, or GMOs. They could be used in germ-line gene editing to enhance or improve certain traits in
babies before they are born, resulting in creating people with desired features which may lead to an
inhumane and discriminative [Link] scientists need to make this universal, and would they want
the world to reach that point? Isn’t it too far? Do we want a world with people who couldn’t feel
pain, and be forced to be a soldier? China first used CRISPR to modify human embryos and
knocked out CCR5, which makes the human no longer get infected by HIV. And there is also a
scientist who made a company that designs babies. Technology isn’t inherently good or evil, it is
how the technology is used that changes the result.
to increase or improve the production of certain plant crops. (This is called “Genetically
Modified Organisms or GMOs.)
1) to increase or improve the production of livestock such as milk or meat from cows or eggs from
chickens. (This is called “Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs.)
2) to remove specific species of animals/insects from selected environments (This use is called a
“gene drive.”)
3) The recent development of the CRISPR/Cas9 system as an efficient and accessible programmable
genome‐editing tool has revolutionized basic science research. CRISPR/Cas9 system ‐based
technologies have armed researchers with new powerful tools to unveil the impact of genetics on
disease development by enabling the creation of precise cellular and animal models of human
diseases. The therapeutic potential of these technologies is tremendous, particularly in gene
therapy, in which a patient‐specific mutation is genetically corrected in order to treat human
diseases that are untreatable with conventional therapies. However, the translation of
CRISPR/Cas9 into the clinics will be challenging, since we still need to improve the efficiency,
specificity and delivery of this technology. In this review, we focus on several in vitro, in vivo
and ex vivo applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in human disease‐focused research, explore
the potential of this technology in translational medicine and discuss some of the major
challenges for its future use in patients. Since then, this technique has enabled the study of human
diseases in mouse and other animal models and contributed considerably in the process of drug
discovery and development.
4) It is revolutionizing the biomedical research field and holds promise to treat or prevent many
human genetic disorders.
5) The permission for genetic engineering technologies should be decided by both the
government, and the citizens. My opinion about the permission of genetic engineering
technologies is that they should be permitted for medical reasons, like medicines for
genetic diseases. However, there should be restricted laws because they should be
used only when necessary, and shouldn’t be used for humans’ greed to create babies
with desired features.
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