In 1986, a PhD student in Japan discovered a strange set of sequences of nucleotides in an E. coli gene. 5 sequences of DNA were identical to each other and interspaced between normal-looking sequences. Not long after, these “regularly spaced repeats and spacers” were found in 20 different bacteria and archaea. Then, in 2001, the name, CRISPR, standing for “clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats” was coined. It was also discovered that these organisms that had CRISPRs also were flanked by a gene(s) which encoded for making an enzyme(s). These enzymes are known as CRISPR-associated or Cas enzymes. Scientists now know that this system in bacteria and archae is their “immune system.” The spacer segments matched those of viruses that had attacked that bacteria. Ultimately, with work done by many scientists the CRISPR-Cas 9 enzyme was found that it could be used as a very powerful tool for gene-editing because it could be programed to cut both strands of a section of DNA, potentially chopping out a gene and a new piece of DNA could be inserted where the cut was made. So….the question is “What do we allow or not allow with this type of biotechnology?”
Can you think of any situations in which gene editing could or should be used for humans? Should we allow the use of CRISPR gene editing to remove harmful genes? Should we allow the use of CRISPR gene editing to add beneficial genes or allow parents to select the traits of their children? Should we allow CRISPR gene editing to enhance plant crops? What about developing vaccines against specific viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2? A recent article discussed the possibility of using gene editing to be able to prevent blindness in premature infants. See if you can find any examples of additional ways in which gene editing could be beneficial OR is that an area that science should completely ban in any and all applications?
After viewing the Youtube video What is CRISPR?, post your 300 word comments about the use of CRISPR gene editing tools. Be sure to reply to two other students.
youtube video:
