Crispr

CRISPR is the abbreviation of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, which represents the gene fragments of prokaryotic organisms containing repetitive base sequence in a short length. The widely applied CRISPR technology is the Crispr/Cas system for gene sequence editions by transferring Cas9 protein family encoded gene into cells and potentially simplifies the procedure of cutting DNA at a desired location . 

There are three CRISPR systems, one of which has been adapted for eukaryotes. This is the Type II CRISPR system,which involves Cas9 protein, and it consists of three stages summarised briefly below:

1. Acquisition, where the invading DNA is recognized by Cas 1 and 2, and a protospacer is cleaved. The protospace then ligates to the repeat directly opposite the leader sequence, and single stranded extention repairs the CRISPR array and duplicates the repeat (forming pre-crRNA). A copy of the invader's DNA is now incorprated into CRISPR's locus.
2. crRNA processing, where tracrRNA hybridizes to the repeat regions of the pre-crRNA, and with the help of RNAse III, mature crRNAs with individual spacer sequences are created.
3. Interference, where the mature crRNA:tracrRNA complex directs cas9 to the target DNA via base pairing between the spacer on the crRNA and the protospacer on the target DNA next to the PAM (protospacer adjacent motif). Finally, Cas9 mediates cleavage of target DNA to create a double stranded break within the protospacer.
   

The DNA repairs this double stranded break (DSB) by either non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homology directed repair (HDR). The main differences are highlighted here.

The CRISPR technology is now being adapted in order to be used to fight disease. For example, adaptations are being made to use CRISPR to fight antibiotic resistance. Alongside this, labs are trying to modify mosquitos to release into the wild in order to eradicate malaria, however there are some ethical concerns stipulating around this.