Gene editing tool CRISPR-cas 9 and emerging new world
Vast number of patients suffering from lifelong incurable diseases such as Sickle cell disease , Cystic fibrosis or Haemophilia and many more are at the threshold for a complete reversal of the disease and in near future shall influence favourably the treatment of poorly treated cancer , heart diseases and even mental illness .
The newly acquired genome editing tool which can cut copy and paste the diseased genes with a healthy counterpart very effectively. This is known as CRISPR cas 9 , a Genetic editing tool ,short for Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats and associated protein 9 ,discovered by two brilliant lady scientists CARPENTIER & DUODNA, which brought them the coveted Nobel prize for chemistry 2020.
CRISPR cas 9 system consists of two key molecules that introduce a change or alter the strand of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) within a genome (chemical basis of inheritance).
- There is cas 9 enzyme, a nuclease protein which acts just like a molecular scissor. It cuts the strands of double stranded DNA at a specific location at both ends so that a segment of desired DNA can be removed
- A ‘guide ‘ RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) a pre designed segment of about 20 bases long , is located within a longer RNA scaffold. This scaffold binds to DNA to which it is complementary and this pre designated sequence guides CAS 9 to the specific part of the genome where it cleaves the DNA at specific location with perfect 100 % precision .
By doing so this combination of CAS 9 and guide RNA knockdown the diseased DNA within a genome following which either the cut ends join and produce a changed unstable DNA or another appropriate DNA made out of suitable complementary RNA is inserted to rectify the defective genome and bridge the gap .
The idea of CRISPR CAS 9
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