Category
3MT - Three Minute Thesis
Description
Just over a decade ago, the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR-Cas) system was identified in prokaryotes. The emergence of this system has expanded the potential of genome editing, bringing what were once thought impossible into reality in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, and medicinal research. Recently, a eukaryotic CRISPR-Cas-like system, Fanzor, was reported under a novel class of the RNA-guided DNA cleavage system termed OMEGA. Thus, it was the goal of this thesis to share the history of genome editing tools, compare the structure and functions of reported RNA-guided DNA cleavage systems, review their current and prospective applications, and discuss the ethical issues surrounding gene editing. A literature review of published experimental and review articles was conducted to gather information. The review shows that structural and mechanical studies of the systems suggest Fanzor is a distant relative of CRISPR and has a potential as a programmable genome editing tool. Additionally, the review reports newly approved disease treatments using genome editing tools, ongoing clinical trials of other diseases, and varying ethical perspectives amongst the public. The novel discovery of eukaryotic CRISPR system adds to the excitement of advancing the genome editing technology while at the same time, it enhances the concern for ethics of research and the need to establish legal boundaries.
The advancement of genome editing tools - A blessing or a curse?
3MT - Three Minute Thesis
Just over a decade ago, the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR-Cas) system was identified in prokaryotes. The emergence of this system has expanded the potential of genome editing, bringing what were once thought impossible into reality in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, and medicinal research. Recently, a eukaryotic CRISPR-Cas-like system, Fanzor, was reported under a novel class of the RNA-guided DNA cleavage system termed OMEGA. Thus, it was the goal of this thesis to share the history of genome editing tools, compare the structure and functions of reported RNA-guided DNA cleavage systems, review their current and prospective applications, and discuss the ethical issues surrounding gene editing. A literature review of published experimental and review articles was conducted to gather information. The review shows that structural and mechanical studies of the systems suggest Fanzor is a distant relative of CRISPR and has a potential as a programmable genome editing tool. Additionally, the review reports newly approved disease treatments using genome editing tools, ongoing clinical trials of other diseases, and varying ethical perspectives amongst the public. The novel discovery of eukaryotic CRISPR system adds to the excitement of advancing the genome editing technology while at the same time, it enhances the concern for ethics of research and the need to establish legal boundaries.
Comments
Undergraduate - 2nd Place Award Winner