Rapid Read: CRISPR — Gene Editing
Welcome to the third part of the blog series on exploring CRISPR, from fundamentals to advanced applications. We will explore the basics of gene editing, setting the stage for understanding CRISPR technology.
Gene editing involves altering DNA sequences within an organism’s genome, offering unprecedented opportunities in fields like medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a revolutionary technology that enables highly accurate targeted gene editing. One of the most widely used tools in this technology in CRISPR-Cas9. Cas9 is a protein that can be programmed to target specific DNA sequences, guided by a short RNA molecule.
In gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9, the process begins with designing a guide RNA (gRNA) that complements the target DNA sequence. The gRNA directs the Cas9 protein to the desired location on the DNA, where Cas9 creates a double-strand break in the DNA molecule, acting like molecular scissors. By guiding Cas9 with a customizable RNA molecule, scientists can target and modify precise locations within the genome.
CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism
After Cas9 cuts the DNA, the cell’s repair mechanisms activate. There are two primary repair pathways: Non-Homology End Joining (NHEJ) and Homology Directed Repair (HDR). NHEJ can introduce small insertions or deletions (indels) at the cut site, potentially disrupting the gene’s function. HDR can be used to inset or replace specific DNA sequences.
The applications of CRISPR in gene editing are vast and promising. This technology allows researchers to fix genetic mutations associated with diseases, enhance crops for increased yield and durability and investigate fundamental biological processes at a molecular level.
