CRISPR gene-editing technology revolutionary though a very simplified version of gene modification discovered in 2012 and a recreated form of CRISPR-Cas system came into existence by two scientists i.e. Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier. These two scientists recently won Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this discovery of CRISPR-Cas system of gene editing.



CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. Where does it come from? How do we know that they exist and perform a function which is unimaginable by many humans? The answer is all around us invisible to our naked eyes. Yes, you got it right these are the bacteria which naturally bear this immune response system in itself to protect themselves from viral DNA attacks.

  1. What is CRISPR

CRISPR is a DNA sequence that means if you take DNA as a long rope CRISPR is a small section of that rope and that section consists of knots at a fixed distance which in terms of biology we call repeated palindromic sequences. CRISPR-Cas system means the CRISPR gene and a protein Cas-9 which is also known as molecular scissors and so it cuts the targeted DNA, along with these 2 molecules, tracrRNA is also present it is a single small rope. In laymen CRISPR-Cas system is a scissor(Cas-9  enzyme)  attached with two rope(crRNA & tracrRNA).


  1. How does it function

The bacteria while fighting with the virus it attaches a small DNA sequence of virus known as a spacer into its DNA sequence. The spacer is more like a detective agent working for bacteria to identify the evil virus. Thus spacer provides genetic memory.
After identification CRISPR gene produces crRNA and then the CRISPR-Cas system finds the targeted sequence in the viral DNA. Cas-9 (scissor) enzyme cut the targeted sequence and the viral DNA get deactivated. Now the virus can not harm the bacteria.
This procedure is similar to defusing a bomb by cutting red wires(as we see in movies).

Credit: Vox

  1. Uses and Future Aspects

After so much discussion and facts based on the scientific terms, one would think about how it is going to affect us? What are the uses of such theoretical discussion?

The point here is there is no science without its practical implication. That means CRISPR can be implemented in our daily lives, let’s see how:

  • Medical aspects:

In humans, viruses like HIV and H1N1 have fatal effects. By using CRISPR-Cas system techniques are being in development to precisely cut the DNA sequence of these viruses to prevent harmful effects.

Same is the case with a genetic disorder like sickle cell anaemia where the mutated DNA sequence can be replaced with Normal DNA sequence cure the effect of disorder.

  • Agricultural & Economical

It helps in vaccinating the probiotic culture and industrial microbe culture (E.g. Yoghurt) against viruses that can be harmful.

It can also be used in preparing better varieties of plant species having a prevention system against viral diseases. There can be many uses of CRISPR in the field of agriculture, we can also increase nutrient quality or yield of the crop.

Similarly, we can develop such features in the plant it can be grown away from its niche area (growing Alphonso mangoes in our garden). There are many other probabilities that CRISPR provide due to its precise gene editing.


  1. Conclusion

However, besides its benefits and advantages, it still has few drawbacks. CRISPR technology is precise than other gene-editing tools but it is not 100% precise, It’s unregulated and uncontrolled use can cause mutation in organisms.

There are also ethical issues present with it like who gives us the right to change the nature or harm any animal in such a way that it can cause a permanent change in the species at it’s molecular. There is also a question that who gives us the right to play with nature and change it? Of there are advantages, there can be drawbacks and their deleterious results.

It is important to consider it’s drawbacks before it’s  implication, otherwise it is not an exaggeration to say that “the zombies from the movie might enter into the reality”.