Document Type
Poster Session
Department
Southern Maine Community College
Faculty Mentor
Daniel Moore, PhD
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) was discovered in 1987, this gave us an ability to affordably modify genetic material within a genome. Previously, CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) cut both DNA strands at a specific location determined by a guide RNA. The strands will repair the break with two main mechanisms homology-directed repair (HDR) and nonhomologous repair (Fig 1.). Unfortunately, introducing a designed sequence is not easy. This review describes two new applications of CRISPR as a technology. A new technique was introduced last year called CRISPR Prime Editing. Another recent application of CRISPR is gene drives. With help from CRISPR prime, an allele can be designed to become homozygous by homologous recombination as gametes form so that the designed allele will nearly always be passed to progeny. It may be possible to accurately identify and correct genetic defects in a population. These new technologies create incredible possibilities, as well they also raise major ethical questions.
Open Access?
1
How CRISPR Prime Edited Gene Drives could lead to a Genetic Revolution
Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) was discovered in 1987, this gave us an ability to affordably modify genetic material within a genome. Previously, CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) cut both DNA strands at a specific location determined by a guide RNA. The strands will repair the break with two main mechanisms homology-directed repair (HDR) and nonhomologous repair (Fig 1.). Unfortunately, introducing a designed sequence is not easy. This review describes two new applications of CRISPR as a technology. A new technique was introduced last year called CRISPR Prime Editing. Another recent application of CRISPR is gene drives. With help from CRISPR prime, an allele can be designed to become homozygous by homologous recombination as gametes form so that the designed allele will nearly always be passed to progeny. It may be possible to accurately identify and correct genetic defects in a population. These new technologies create incredible possibilities, as well they also raise major ethical questions.
