For gene editing to have a future, we have to lay out the rules now
The CRISPR gene editing technique makes it possible to modify the genomes of living organisms using a simplified version of the CRISPR-Cas9 bacterial antiviral defense system, and is set to play a big role in biotechnology and medicine.
The approach takes advantage of a defense mechanism that bacterial cells use against viruses, which allows them to eliminate invasive DNA. This makes it possible to edit DNA fragments in any type of cell with precision, making it possible to repair genetic defects or eliminate disease-causing genes. Using a molecule called Cas9 that acts like a molecular scissors, it cuts the DNA at the desired location, and another molecule, a synthetic guide RNA, that matches the DNA fragment to be modified, directs Cas9 to the correct point in the genome. Once the DNA is spliced, it is possible to insert, remove or replace specific DNA fragments.
Progress in the knowledge of genetic mapping now makes it possible to associate each genetic fragment with its function in the cell, making it possible to carry out perfectly targeted manipulations. In agriculture, for example, it is possible to obtain everything from seedless cherries — or at least without the hard coating that protects the seed — to vegetables that are easier to eat in an attempt to get more people to include them in their…
