Question

4. What is CRISPR? Describe the mechanism in detail with respect to bacterial resistance to phage. Following this, go on to briefly describe why this is rapidly becoming useful DNA technology. What are the ethical implications of this?

Answer 1

Answer 1 -
CRISPR is a modern technology for editing genomes. The full form of CRISPR is Clusters of Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and it has wide application in genome editing. It is the specific region of DNA with that have two distinct features like the presence of nucleotide repeats and spacers. It is used to alter DNA sequences and modify its gene function.

Answer 2 -
CRISPR and their associated genes are linked to a mechanism that contains the acquired resistance against bacteriophages. Bacteria have the ability to integrate short stretches of phage derived sequences known as spacers within CRISPR loci to develop phage resistant.

Answer 3-
CRISPR technology is a powerful tool for editing genomes and hence it is DNA technology that is becoming rapidly useful. It is a tool for the alteration of DNA sequences and modifies gene function. Its has wide applications that include correcting genetic defects, treating a genetic disorder and improves crops quality.

Answer 4-
There are ethical issues in CRISPR technology
1. Safety
There is a safety concern regarding the off-target effects and mosaicism

2. Genome-Editing Research that involves Embryos
Due to moral and religious objections of using human embryos for research, it has ethical implications.

3. Justice and Equity
It is more accessible to the wealthy which lead to increase existing disparities