Gene-Editing Background

The discovery of gene-editing or genome editing allows scientists to cut and manipulate genomic materials. With the help of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, the editing tool tries to cut the DNA and replace it with modifications. The human body contains DNA, the collection of genes present in a cell at a particular time. All of the DNA of a living being is called its genome. Every cell in a body has all the genomic data. Innovations and development in science have led to many gene-editing techniques. Though genetic tools existed previously, the technology used chemicals and radiation to cause mutations but had no way of controlling where the transformation in the genome would occur. 

American scientist Jennifer Doudna and microbiologist Emmanuelle Charpentier won the Chemistry Nobel Prize in 2020 for gene-editing technology.

Gene-Editing Background

Gene editing aims to change and alter something in the DNA of organisms without introducing new or modified genes. Changes like insertions and deletions in the organism’s genome. Over the past decade, the CRISPR-Cas 9 system has become a popular gene-editing method because it’s a fast, affordable, accurate, and relatively easy technique.

CRISPR-Cas9 stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. A sequence of information is present in our genes and is regularly interspersed and repetitive in nature and thus known as palindromic repeats. CRISPR-Cas9 is a protein that comes from bacteria and functions as a defence mechanism against viruses. It allows performing targeted alternation in the genome. 

Scientists create an RNA with a guide sequence complementary to a targeted bit of DNA in the hosts’ genome. The Cas9 protein fixes itself to the RNA, and the entire thing attaches to the target DNA sequence in the host genome by doing alternation. In other words, the Cas9 protein molecular scissors cut the two strands of DNA at a specific location, and the RNA guide makes sure that the Cas9 protein cuts the right genome at the right time. The cell recognises the damage and naturally joins the DNA as the defected genome is removed and creates a sequence. 

The Possible Advantages of Gene Editing

1. Prevention of diseases: CRISPR- Cas9 technology works in various cell types and organisms, and it’s been used to study diseases. Physical attributes or behavioural traits like height, skin colour, temperament and incurable diseases can be passed on from the genes. Thus, gene editing has the potential to cure diseases. Various hereditary changes that people endure will end solely after we effectively intercede with this technology. It can prevent diseases like colour blindness, cancer, HIV, Hepatitis B, diabetes, neurological diseases, etc.
2. Quality of Food Production: Gene editing will help with rot, pest and temperature resistance for food crops. Moreover, it could likewise be the response to satisfy the food unavailable to everyone. The USA uses gene-editing technology on 90% of the food crops like soybean, cotton and corn.
3. Increase in Lifespan: In recent times, there has been a surge in lifestyle diseases like diabetes. There are a lot of rare genetic diseases that can be cured through gene editing. Thus, genome editing could expand human life expectancy.
4. Inexpensive: The cost of gene editing is not much compared to its alternatives, and can be made accessible to the common public. CRISPR-Cas9 allows modifications and alterations, which are now becoming inexpensive. 
5. Target oriented: This modern technology has made it easier and faster to target specific genes for more precise alternation of the organism through genetic editing. This has been done in several organisms, including monkeys and mice, and is now moving to humans rapidly. 

The Cons of Gene Editing

1. Ethical issues: The use of gene editing for the human body requires consent, and you can not implement the technique on infants. Also, it is unethical to mould the design of human embryos, and it can enhance or destroy them. 
2. Safety: It may enhance the disease which was looking to be cured, and it can create more implications for the body. Changing the system of the human body is risky. The hormones in our body change naturally, and might not respond as expected.  
3. Lack of knowledge: The technology can become dangerous when used without knowing what you are doing. The cost of the tool is low and thus can also be a con as anyone can get it and try to use it without expertise and research. 

Conclusion

The gene editing CRISPR-Cas9 is becoming a revolutionary tool for the mutation of genes. Despite its ethical issues, it can be of great use. CRISPR-Cas9 has extraordinary potential for changing agribusiness by making plants pest resistant and working on their dietary benefit and yield. These properties are important to satisfy the need of a rising population. Having the option to successfully and strongly utilise this innovation in crop improvement and other fields is incredible. Researchers need to address the different biosafety and cultural worries regarding gene editing.