PATHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -If a harmful DNA variant causes a disease, scientists might be able to use CRISPR to fix the problem. They could use CRISPR to edit the gene by changing the DNA from the harmful variant to a healthy variant. This could potentially prevent or cure a genetic disease. CRISPR proteins act like scissors, cutting DNA.

Detailed explanation-2: -Scientists are studying CRISPR for many conditions, including high cholesterol, HIV, and Huntington’s disease. Researchers have also used CRISPR to cure muscular dystrophy in mice. Most likely, the first disease CRISPR helps cure will be caused by just one flaw in a single gene, like sickle cell disease.

Detailed explanation-3: -But the technology could also hold great potential as a treatment for human diseases. In theory, CRISPR could let us edit any genetic mutation at will to cure any disease with a genetic origin. In practice, however, CRISPR is still in the beginning stages of its therapeutic development.

Detailed explanation-4: -Arguably, the most important advantages of CRISPR/Cas9 over other genome editing technologies is its simplicity and efficiency. Since it can be applied directly in embryo, CRISPR/Cas9 reduces the time required to modify target genes compared to gene targeting technologies based on the use of embryonic stem (ES) cells.