The Power of CRISPR technology (The Technology That Will Save Lives)

If you are familiar with a computer, you should understand the word cut and paste also, words like edit and delete should not be new to you. The words are used to correct, add or remove words or in some cases objects. In this post, I will be doing justice to deleting, cutting and/or pasting DNAs.

Flickr

Introduction

CRISPR-Cas9 short form for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat and CRISPR associated with protein 9, is a technology that allows scientists to alter, remove, add and delete genetic materials in an organisms DNA. In the process, scientists uses Cas9 protein which can easily be programmed to find and bind to any desired target sequence by giving it a piece of RNA to guide it while searching. CRISPR technology was adapted by scientist from the natural defense mechanism of bacteria and Archaea. Scientist realized that if a virus tried to infect a bacteria or Archaea, CRISPR—associated protein Cas9 and CRISPR derived RNA were able to identify the specific infectious nucleic acid sequence break apart from it and with that potentially destroying the virus.

Source

How CRISPR Works

In the same way Bacteria and Archaea uses Cas9 protein to edit, delete and alter their DNA, scientist have started using CRISPR to edit genetic information/code in the gene of organism. In other to make this possible, scientists uses RNA guided protein Cas9 to match the target. Cas9 searches through the DNA code of the organism until it finds the sequence of DNA that matches the program of its guide RNA. Cas9 enables the DNA to open the DNA helix after which it position to molecular blade to cut each strand of the DNA double helix, repair enzyme repairs the DNA coding, seal the Gap that is broken In the DNA by inserting new genetic information that pair up with the cut ends recombining and replacing the original sequence.

Importance of CRISPR technology

Since scientist have been able to correct the genetic makeup of DNA, scientist have been able to work on fertilized egg, allowing the creation of transgenic animals with targeted mutation, this technology has improved the basic research in drug development, agriculture and food, and perhaps eventually for treating human patients with genetic disease like sickle cell anemia.

Limitations to CRIPR technology

Have you thought of trying CRISPR only for your DNA to be altered and mutation occurs after which you can now throw webs like a spider and become the spider man of the century?

needpix.com

There are several limitation to CRISPR technology and the major one is mutation result. Scientist are very careful when it comes to testing innovations and technology on humans, CRISPR technology on human isn’t 100% efficient as in humans there is a chance of not getting the precise edit when the DNA is cut (genome vandalism) but scientist have been able to use CRISPR technology to modify human embryos and reproductive cells (Sperm and eggs) with no complications.

---

---

Although there are limitations to this technology at present, but CRISPR remains one of the most powerful tool for solving a lot of genetic problems and diseases in humans, animals and agriculture. The use of CRISPR will help find solution to several viral diseases by cutting of the affected DNA and recoding the DNA back to its previous or new form.

---

---

---

I hope you enjoyed reading my post?

Do not forget to upvote, comment and resteem for more visibility, this will encourage me to do more.

---

---

Remember to follow @project.hope on steemit, you can also delegate to the project as it is bringing hope to steemians.

---

---