Synthetic Biology and Tissue Engineering

CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing

CRISPR-Cas9 is a unique technology that enables geneticists and medical researchers to edit parts of the genome by removing, adding or altering sections of the DNA Sequence.It is currently the simplest, most versatile and precise method of genetic manipulation and is therefore causing a buzz in the science world.

The CRISPR-Cas9 system consists of two key molecules that introduce a change (mutation) into the DNA. These are an enzyme Called Cas9. This acts as a pair of ‘molecular scissors’ that can cut the two strands of DNA and a piece of RNA Called guide RNA (gRNA) which binds to DNA. The Cas9 follows the guide RNA to the same location in the DNA sequence and makes a cut across both strands of the DNA. At this stage the cell recognises that the DNA is damaged and tries to repair it.