CRISPR: Curating the Genetic Code

Gene Editing – And you wonder how far the human race has come! From eating raw meat of any prey that the early paleolithic man could find, to discovering fire, forming cultures, building structures and paintings, inventing the steam engine to airplanes, and now we can see a possible future where Genes could be edited and curated in ways that summit the human expectations.

Genes: The Original Blueprint

Before we get to the juicy stuff, let’s get one thing straight: genes are not those overly complicated passwords you keep forgetting, it’s even more complicated than that. Genes are a segment of the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) that contains information for structure of proteins; there are different proteins that are responsible for the function of different features in your body, and all this information is present in different genes. They’re segments of DNA that hold the blueprints for everything that makes you…well, you! From your eye color to your tendency to binge-watch Netflix, genes are responsible for more than just your questionable fashion choices.

How did Gene editing come into picture?

Why on earth did we need to start editing genes? Picture this: a world where genetic disorders are as common as bad hair days. Sounds like a dystopian sitcom, right? Well, in real life, disorders like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia were no laughing matter. Scientists realized that if they could fix these genetic blunders, it would inevitably add to the quest for perfecting us human beings, and reaching the pinnacle of existence.

This is the beauty of science, the infinitesimally small itch that one gets wondering ‘What if it were this way?’, and it's that itch you feel on your back that just needs to be vanquished, but your hands don’t reach the spot, until it does.

The Dawn of Gene Editing

Enter the world of gene editing. Historically, scientists were like DIY enthusiasts with a broken toolbox—promising fixes that often led to more problems. It was like trying to fix your car’s engine with a spatula. You don’t possibly think it could have easy to just stumble upon a way to cut genes, it don’t just happen accidentally, nothing could lead them there, it was all meant to be right from the very beginning.

Finally came a breakthrough: CRISPR.

What Is CRISPR?

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) sounds like a word that should be on the Spelling Bee champion list, but it’s actually a revolutionary gene-editing tool. Imagine CRISPR as the ultimate “Find and Replace” function for your genetic code. It’s like giving a set of high-tech scissors to a biologist and saying, “Go ahead, cut out the mistakes and paste in something better.”

The magic of CRISPR began with scientists studying bacteria. It turns out bacteria had a nifty way of defending themselves from viruses by cutting out viral DNA. Researchers thought, “Hey, if bacteria can do that, why can’t we?” And thus, CRISPR was born, bringing us the ability to snip out bad genes and replace them with better ones. It’s like gene editing’s version of “Extreme Makeover: DNA Edition.”

In 2012, a significant milestone occurred when Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna first published the groundbreaking paper detailing the use of CRISPR-Cas9 as a genome-editing tool. Later, it was Feng Zhang and his team at MIT that adapted CRISPR for use in human cells, further adding to the grandeur of this discovery.

The first clinical trials using CRISPR to treat genetic disorders started in 2016, with the targeting of sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia. In 2020, Doudna and Charpentier received the Nobel Prize for their work on CRISPR and its development. By 2021, CRISPR had been used to develop crops resistant to diseases and pests, showcasing its agricultural applications.

The Future of CRISPR

As we fast-forward into the future, CRISPR holds the promise of curing genetic diseases, creating super crops, and possibly making humans that are more intelligent and better-looking (because, of course, that’s the next logical step). With CRISPR, we’re not just editing genes; we’re rewriting the story of life itself.

So next time someone mentions CRISPR, remember it’s not a new snack —it’s the future of genetic engineering. And who knows? Maybe someday your great-great-grandchildren will thank you for being part of the generation that turned genetic mishaps into triumphs.