Embedded Files
Goal Video
Goal Video
Person on the Street
Person on the Street
Project Overview:
In my project, I vowed to learn more about modern-day CRISPR innovations. We touched on them in class, and I saw articles about Dr. Jennifer Doudna all over the news. I had to learn more about this constantly changing field of study. Also, Feng Zhang seemed to play a large role in CRISPR development from what I heard on the news, so I looked into that research too.
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats have an evolutionary origin in archaea and bacteria. Viral DNA was incorporated into bacterial DNA with spacers in earlier generations to offer a mechanism to fight off the same viruses. The environmental pressure of these viruses made it so that only the bacteria with this CRISPR mechanism would survive and reproduce. That process is an example of natural selection which turned into evolution through the incorporation of CRISPR-Cas9 in the genome of these bacteria which was also a heritable gene.
That is CRIPR’s origin in evolution, but recently it is being developed for gene editing. The Cas9 protein with guide RNA can be used to silence genes. A PAM sequence is needed before the target sequence in the DNA where the guide RNA binds. The cleavage by the Cas9 causes non-homologous end-joining or homology-directed repair. Cells are super bad at NHEJ, so it causes a frameshift or nonsense mutation knocking out the gene. HDR incorporates donor DNA. That is a basic overview of CRISPR, and the research that I will tell you about has made fascinating developments in the application of CRISPR.
In Jennifer Doudna’s work, I learned what she developed to win a Nobel Prize. She found a way to make the tracrRNA and crRNA into one piece. This allowed CRISPR-Cas9 to be better used in applications for gene editing. Originally the two pieces were clunky and less feasible in possible gene editing. Upon publishing her research, she voiced the new possibilities of feasible gene editing through the application of a more streamlined tool.
In Feng Zhang’s work, I learned about his main discoveries with the double nicking strategy. This strategy allowed for more specific binding and, therefore, efficiency. The main problem with the early CRISPR system was off-target hits meaning that genes that were not meant to be silenced would end up being silenced. He created this more specified strategy for identifying the binding area for the Cas9 to make the process more accurate and safer for use on living organisms.
Also, I created graphics to better visualize the CRISPR system for my reader in the context of evolution.
My first video is just a longer explanation of my project with CRISPR and why I chose it.
In my second video, I do a (virtual) person on the street video where I ask people their opinions on how far is too far with CRISPR. This biological tool has expansive uses which can also be used to manipulate human genetics extraneously.
The research allowed me to create a more encompassing knowledge around the new studies with CRISPR which helps me think about the modern-day uses of this technology. The technology is important to possibly cure many genetic diseases and disorders. However, the morality in this system is somewhat murky, so I wanted to see the opinions of students on this matter of morality.
Graphics
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