CRISPR/Cas9 a simple, inexpensive and effective technique for gene editing

• Main Author: Ferreira, Patrick
• Publication Date: 2022
• Other Authors: Choupina, Altino
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/25680
• topic: CRISPR; Cas9; Editing genes; Genome engineering

In recent years, the number of tools and techniques that enable genetic material to be added, removed or altered at specifc locations in the genome has increased signifcantly. The objective is to know the structure of genomes, the function of genes and improve gene therapy. In this work we intend to explain the functioning of the CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palin dromic Repeats/CRISPR associated protein 9) and the advantages that this technique may have compared to previously developed techniques, such as RNA interference (RNAi), Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) and transcription activator-like efector nucleases (TALENs) in gene and genome editing. We will start with the story of the discovery, then its biological function in the adaptive immune system of bacteria against bacteriophage attack, and ending with a description of the mechanism of action and its use in gene editing. We will also discuss other Cas enzymes with great potential for use in genome editing as an alternative to Cas9. CRISPR/Cas9 is a simple, inexpensive, and efective technique for gene editing with multiple applications from the development of functional genomics and epigenetics. This technique will, in the near future, have great applications in the development of cell models for use in medical and pharmaceutical processes, in targeted therapy, and improvement of agricultural and environmental species.