Genome Editing and CRISPR- Cas9 in new Era
Genome Editing and CRISPR- Cas9
Every cell in our body contains a copy of the Genome, Over 2000 Genes, 3 Billion Letters of DNA.
DNA consist of 2 strands twisted into a double helix and held together by simple pairing rule. A Pairs with T and G pairs with C. Our gene shapes who we are as individuals and species. Gene also has Profound effects on health and Thanks to advances in DNA Sequencing, researchers have identified thousands of genes that affect our risk of disease.
To understand how the gene works, Researchers need ways to control them Changing Genes in a living cell is not easy, but recently a new method has been developed that promises to dramatically improve our ability to edit the DNA of any species, including humans.
What is CRISPR and Cas 9
The elements of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) and CRISPR-related (Cas) qualities are basic in versatile resistance in select microorganisms and archaea, empowering the living beings to react to and wipe out attacking hereditary material.
The CRISPR method is based on the natural system used by bacteria to protect themselves from infection by viruses. When the bacterium detects the presence of Virus DNA, it produces 2 types of short RNA, one of which that matches that of the invading virus. These 2 RNA forms a complex with the protein called Cas9.
Cas9 is a nuclease a type of enzyme that can cut DNA. When the matching sequence known as Guide RNA, Finds it target within the viral Genome, the Cas 9 cuts te target DNA, Disabling the virus. Over the past few years, Researchers study this system realized that it could be engineered to cut not jus viral DNA but any DNA sequence at the Precisely chosen location by changing the guide RNA to match the target. And this can be done not just in a test tube but also in the nucleus of the given cell.
Once inside the nucleus, the resulting complex will lock into a short sequence known as the PAM. The Cas9 will unzip the DNA and match it to its target RNA.
If the match is complete the Cas 9 Will use two tiny molecular scissors to cut the DNA. When this happens, the cell tries to repair the cut, but the repair process is error-prone, leading to a mutation that can disable the gene allowing researchers to understand its function. These mutations are random but sometimes precision needs to be in hand by replacing the mutant gene with a healthy copy.
Cas9 and CRISPR as a New Tool in Molecular Biology
This can be done by adding another piece of DNA that carries the desired sequence. Once the CRISPR system has made a cut, This DNA template will pair up with the cut ends, recombining and replacing the other sequence with the new version.All this can be done in-
- Cultured cells
- Somatic Cells,
- Stem cells.
- Can be done in Fertilized Egg
- Allowing the creation of Transgenic animals with the targeted mutation.
- And unlike other methods, CRISPR gene tends to target many genes at once and thus help for the causes of human diseases that are caused by multiple mutations acting together.
These methods are being improved rapidly and will have many applications in basic research, drug development, agriculture, and treatment of human diseases.
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