CRISPR— ‘The Game Changer’
A life-altering invention that can change the entire human race.
In the year 2012, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Jennifer Doudna invented a tool that can edit DNA, which brings about a paradigm shift in the entire human race.
But what does it mean for humanity? Should we be able to hack our own DNA and mold it on our own terms? Or this would become a democratic technology that parents can use to enhance the abilities of their kids?
Who is Jennifer Doudna?
Jennifer Doudna is an American biochemist who has done pioneering work in CRISPR gene editing and made a plethora of vital contributions in biochemistry and genetics. In the year 2020, she along with Emmanuelle Charpentier, received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for inventing a method for genome editing.
Early Life Of Jennifer Doudna
Jennifer Doudna spent the major chunk of her childhood in Hilo, Hawaii. She did her graduation from Pomona College in 1985 and got her Ph.D. from Harvard Medical School in the year 1989.
In 2012, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier were the first to propose that CRISPR-Cas9 (Cas9: enzymes from bacteria that control microbial immunity) could play a crucial role in the programmable modifications of genes, and this has been termed as one of the most vital discoveries in the history of biology. Post this, Jennifer Doudna has been leading the way in what is referred to as the “CRISPR revolution”.
What is CRISPR?
CRISPR is a tool that helps in editing genes. In simpler words: it’s a way of locating a specific bit of DNA inside a cell and in the next step that piece of DNA is edited. Moreover, CRISPR has also been used to do other things as well, viz. turning genes on or off without making major changes in their sequence. CRISPR — Cas system is designed to fight viruses.
Before CRISPR was invented, there were tools and technologies present that were able to alter the genes of some plants and animals. But, the usage cost of those technologies was way too high. Whereas, CRISPR is easy to use and cheaper in cost.
CRISPR & COVID-19
COVID-19, the coronavirus disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, firstly came into being in Wuhan, China in late 2019. There are no preventive vaccines or cures for COVID-19, and there onwards, it has been termed as a pandemic that affected more than 215 countries across the globe. The only trustable diagnostics for COVID-19 is a qPCR assay. Among various other diagnostic tools, the CRISPR-Cas system is being used to probe the diagnosis of COVID-19.
CRISPR was the first technology that was approved officially by US-FDA (Food & Drug Administration) to develop a rapid diagnostic tests.
In May 2020, Sherlock Biosciences became the first company to get the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR.
The COVID-19 test kit is initialized by programming the CRISPR system to search the genetic signature of SARS-CoV-2, capturing gRNA that is present in a specific section of the viral genome. If the detection is made in a sample, the CRISPR system starts off and a detectable signal — in this case, a fluorescent marker — is released.
Future Of CRISPR
CRISPR is already a part of a plethora of scientific research. In the future, we may have many plants and animals around us CRISPR-altered.
CRISPR technology will also play a major role in transforming medicine which may treat and prevent a plethora of diseases. It may also help in changing and altering the genes of our children.
In all, CRISPR is not just bringing in a revolution, it is a game-changer in the human era.