One of the most exciting developments in molecular biology in recent years, the CRISPR genome editing tool may have profound implications for genome editing and gene therapy. Although gene editing is nothing new for the scientific community, CRISPR enables researchers to edit genomes with accuracy and efficiency that far surpasses anything else that is currently available.
Short for “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,” CRISPR refers to repeating chains of DNA found in some bacterial genomes. Between these clusters are unique segments of DNA nucleotides, which match specific sequences on the DNA of harmful viruses. Utilizing these sequences as a signaling agent, bacteria can use defensive enzymes known as Cas, short for “CRISPR-associated proteins,” which recognize viral DNA and destroy it before it can proliferate.
In terms of genomic editing, researchers can isolate the gene for the Cas9 enzyme and connect it with a sequence of interest. Using the natural properties of the Cas9 enzyme, researchers can cut highly specific segments of DNA and paste in new genetic material. Unlike other enzymes, which often cut DNA indiscriminately at many points, Cas9 can accommodate templates of up to 20 bases, making it much easier to target specific gene sequences.
Blog - Thomas Chalberg 