CRISPR

· What is about?
CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a revolutionary
gene-editing technology that allows scientists to make precise changes to an organism's DNA. It
is based on a natural defense mechanism found in bacteria against viruses, which has been
adapted for gene editing.

· What is it used for?

CRISPR technology has a wide range of potential applications, including genetic engineering of
crops for improved yield or resistance to pests, development of novel therapies for genetic
disorders, treatment of certain diseases, creation of disease-resistant livestock, and even
potential applications in environmental conservation.

· In what areas is it used?

CRISPR is being used in various fields such as agriculture, medicine, biotechnology, and basic
research. It has the potential to revolutionize fields like healthcare by offering personalized
medicine tailored to an individual's genetic makeup.

· What techniques are used?

CRISPR relies on a guide RNA molecule that can target specific sequences of DNA, and a
protein called Cas9 (or other Cas proteins) that acts as molecular scissors to cut the DNA at the
targeted site. This allows researchers to either remove, add, or modify specific sections of DNA.

· Examples.
· Editing genes in crops to improve yield, nutritional content, and resistance to pests or
environmental stress.
· Developing therapies for genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis by
correcting the underlying genetic mutations.
· Engineering disease-resistant livestock to enhance food security.
· Modifying mosquitoes to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria or Zika virus.

· Explain the process through a picture or diagram.

1. Selection of Target Sequence: The process begins by identifying the specific DNA sequence
within the genome that researchers want to modify. This sequence is typically associated with a
particular gene or trait.

2. Design of Guide RNA (gRNA): A small piece of RNA, known as guide RNA or gRNA, is
designed to complement the target DNA sequence. The gRNA serves as a molecular guide,
leading the CRISPR-associated protein (usually Cas9) to the target site within the genome.

3. Formation of CRISPR-Cas9 Complex: The Cas9 protein, along with the designed gRNA,
forms a complex. This complex acts like a pair of molecular scissors that can precisely cut the
DNA at the target site.

4. DNA Cleavage: Once the CRISPR-Cas9 complex reaches the target DNA sequence, the
Cas9 protein induces a double-strand break in the DNA molecule.

5. Cellular Repair Mechanisms: After the DNA is cut, the cell's natural DNA repair mechanisms
come into play. There are two primary repair pathways: Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ)
and Homology-Directed Repair (HDR).

· NHEJ: This pathway involves the cell's attempt to repair the broken DNA ends quickly.
However, this process can introduce errors, leading to small insertions or deletions (indels) at
the site of the cut. These indels can disrupt the function of the targeted gene, resulting in a
loss-of-function mutation.

· HDR: In this pathway, researchers can provide a DNA template containing the desired
genetic sequence alongside the CRISPR-Cas9 components. The cell can then use this template
to repair the broken DNA, resulting in precise edits at the target site.
6. Analysis of Edits: Scientists analyze the resulting edits to determine the success of the
CRISPR-mediated modification. This analysis may involve techniques such as DNA sequencing
to confirm the desired changes.

· Are there any women working in this field?

Yes, there are many women working in the field of CRISPR and gene editing, for example
Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna.