CRISPR: The ChatGPT Of Genetic Engineering
A dangerously exciting technology
This article has turned out to be rather lengthy. To make it more manageable, I have divided it into four sections, each with a straightforward title: I. Introduction and Background; II. What is CRISPR?; III. Applications of CRISPR; IV. Ethical and Safety Concerns. If you do not have a scientific background or this is your first time hearing about CRISPR, I recommend reading the entire article as it provides a concise and self-contained explanation. However, if you are short on time, feel free to skip to the conclusion section.
I. Introduction and Background
Before describing what CRISPR is and how it works, let us start by reminding ourselves of some important concepts and definitions. Genetics is a scientific discipline concerned with the study of how traits and characteristics, such as height, eye color, blood type, and many others, are inherited from one generation to the next. It seeks to comprehend the molecular basis of inheritance and how deoxyribonucleic acid (or DNA for friends) controls the development and functioning of living organisms.
DNA is a long molecule with a double-stranded helix structure. The building blocks of DNA are called nucleotides, and they can be divided into four types based on their chemical composition…
