CRISPR is a potent genetic editing tool that has the ability to make changes to the DNA of any living creature. Even if it is able to cure some rare illnesses in the future, there are still ethical questions. Learn more here.

CRISPR can be used to alter genes. Scientists are able to use it to alter or "edit" the DNA of living things. They've conducted a number of tests in the past, but are far from using it in conjunction with an approved treatment for people.

Scientists believe this technique will make a significant impact on the treatment and cure of a variety of diseases that are rare genetic diseases and cancers. However, it is still too early to know the long-term impact of this technology.

Scientists believe that this technique could transform medicine and be able of curing many ailments, including rare genetic diseases as well as cancers in the near future, but it's too early to determine how effective it is.

From where did CRISPR originate?

Researchers today employ many methods that were first discovered by researchers studying bacteria. CRISPR is but one example.

CRISPR is short for CRISPR–Cas9 and it's an immune system that is unique inside bacteria. They utilize it to fight back against viruses that are trying to attack them.

The way it works is The virus injects its DNA into bacteria to attack them. This is when bacteria begin their battle: They make use of their CRISPR Cas9 to chop up these bits of viral DNA until they're no more an issue.

Two essential components of CRISPR/Cas9 that give rise to its name:

CRISPR stores tiny bits of DNA viruses have left behind after they've attacked. It's like a virus scrapbook and can help the bacteria find invaders they have seen before.

Cas9 acts as a small set of scissors. It cuts and finds any DNA that doesn't belong there

How does CRISPR work?

DNA is a collection genetic instructions you get from your parents. It explains how to create every part of your body. DNA is made up of four chemical bases, or "letters": A (adenine) (adenine), T (thymine) (thymine), C (cytosine), and G (guanine). These letters can be combined in many ways to make "words" or "genes".

When parents transmit their DNA to their children, there are some letters that may be not present or changed, or perhaps not copied correctly. Most of the time, this doesn't make any difference, however, every occasionally, it alters the way a gene operates. This is known as a genetic mutation (variation), and could cause serious issues that include rare illnesses.

Researchers first came across the CRISPR/Cas9 bacteria systems. They were curious about whether it could be utilized to assist people. They wanted to explore the possibility of eliminating harmful genetic mutations, and replace them with the correct DNA. It could be a solution or cure for many illnesses.

Scientists modified CRISPR Cas9 to enable them to utilize it in their lab. The CRISPR system can detect defective DNA patterns within cells of all living things. After their CRISPR system has identified the issue area, the Cas9 (the "scissor") enzyme will be able to eliminate it.

DNA repair can occur when cut in this manner in nature. By using CRISPR, scientists can utilize the same process of repair to introduce new DNA. What is the procedure? They inject DNA (or genetic genes) into cells. The new DNA is added to the cell as the DNA repairs itself.

CRISPR may prove beneficial to those suffering from rare diseases. Nearly 5600 (80%) of the 7000 rare diseases are genetic. So the promise of CRISPR is immense, but the research is still in its early stage. That means it will still take years before this type of gene editing gets approved for patients.

What are the main issues with CRISPR?

CRISPR's most significant flaw is the inefficiency. It's not working in every cell that scientists have examined. Some cells fail to sustain this process.

And then there are some moral and safety concerns regarding CRISPR.

A few studies suggest that CRISPR could cut off areas of DNA that it's not meant to cut, which could cause dangerous mutations within the DNA of certain cells. Also, CRISPR could cause more health issues than it's attempting to fix. This is known as an off-target effect.

Moral concerns with CRISPR are mostly about the creation of "designer" babies, or using CRISPR systems for aesthetic reasons. You can create children with different hair, eyes or have a better physical appearance. But, CRISPR has many years to be tested before genetic alternatives are even likely. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have prepared a detailed report in 2020 that addresses these concerns. The report offers guidelines and recommendations regarding the use of gene editing tools such as CRISPR.

The conclusion

We'll probably hear a lot more about CRISPR in time to come, as scientists make advances and discover the advantages and disadvantages of this process. The promise of rare diseases being cured isn't the sole reason to make use of CRISPR safely and ethically.