• Question: Can you explain the different uses of CRISPR-Cas?

    Asked by anon-181675 to Jason on 20 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Jason Chu

      Jason Chu answered on 20 Jun 2018:

      This technology comes in two parts.
      CRISPR – a sequence specific to your target, whether that’s viruses or pieces of the genes your interested in.
      Cas9 – an endonuclease enzyme which can break down enzyme.

      So CRISPR works as the GPS-guidance system, and Cas9 works as the “missile” or a a pair of biological scissors. Put these two together and you have a tool which can very specifically remove your gene/DNA sequence of interest.
      Scientists have cleverly manipulated the CRISPR part, so that we can change what it is specific to. Whether that’s gene’s associated with neurodegeneration, or cancer development. So that we can study what these genes do.

      So this tool allows us to silence genes, edit genes, repair genes. This is currently being used for many different molecular and biological studies – with the grand aim of being used as a potential therapeutic molecule!

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