Context:
The latest developments in gene editing technology have the potential to be applied in the creation of animals that are resistant to diseases. Such an application could help in limiting the transmission of avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu.
About CRISPR-Cas9
- It is a gene-editing technology
- CRISPR – Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats
- Involves 2 essential components:
- A guide RNA to match a desired target gene,
- Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9)—an endonuclease which causes a double-stranded DNA break.
- Based on a simplified version of the bacterial CRISPR-Cas9 antiviral defense system.
- Considered highly significant in biotechnology and medicine
- It enables editing genomes in vivo very precisely, cheaply, and easily.
Potential applications:
- Biomedical Research – Correction of genetic disorders and other diseases
- Agriculture: Development of genetically modified crops with improved traits, such as disease resistance, increased yield, and nutritional enhancements.
- Cancer Research: Creating cancer cell models to study tumor biology and develop targeted therapies. Disrupting oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes for research purposes.
- Drug Development: Accelerating drug discovery
- Infectious Disease Control: Development of gene drives to control disease vectors like mosquitoes, potentially reducing the transmission of diseases like malaria or Zika virus.
- Cell Therapy: Editing immune cells for use in immunotherapy, such as CAR-T cell therapy for cancer treatment.
- Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Designing microbes for the production of biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals.
- Conservation Biology: Preserving endangered species by modifying the genomes of individuals to increase their chances of survival in the wild.
Source: The Hindu
Previous year question
What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing
(b) A biosensor used in the accurate detection of pathogens in patients
(c) A gene that makes plants pest-resistant
(d) A herbicidal substance synthesized in genetically modified crops
Answer: (a)