How CRISPR has revolutionized gene editing and what will its consequences be for the future

Genetic engineering has been with us for thousands of years. In the past, humans practiced this through selective breeding and cross breeding in order to strengthen useful traits in plants and animals. For hundreds of years, this method worked but only a few people really understood the process behind it, until the discovery of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).

The discovery of DNA brought to life many scientific experiments. Scientists understood that a little change in DNA would significantly affect the living thing. Early gene modification in the 1960s was a game of chance. Back then scientists showered plants with radiations to cause random mutations in their genetic code with hopes that change would be experienced. The 70s saw the introduction of fragments of DNA into bacteria, plants and animals.

Genome editing is a type of genetic engineering in which DNA is deliberately inserted, removed, or modified in living cells. Genetic engineering has been used in a variety of ways over the years. For example, it has been injected into the bloodstream in laboratory animals to achieve substantial gene editing in subsets of tissues. Approaches based on CRISPR-Cas9 have been used to modify the genomes of crop plants, farm animals, and laboratory model organisms, including mice, rats, and nonhuman primates.

Despite the numerous advantages gene editing brings, it is a controversial topic as it poses ethical and societal concerns. Leave your feedback on what you think about this controversial topic!