In a recent study, an ribonucleic acid (RNA) version of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), a gene editing technology, was developed by scientific researchers led by Dr. Zeng Fang at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
CRISPR technology mainly allows us to cut and paste deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).The latest study of Dr. Zhang shows that aside from DNA, scientists can now cut up RNA with more precision. The study is anchored from an enzyme called C2c2 which protects bacteria from microbes and viruses.
RNA is a close relative of DNA that translates messages from the nucleus to the rest of the cell in a body. DNA carries our genetic codes while RNA holds the information that sets those codes to function. It’s like saying that DNA has the computer codes but it is the RNA that reads the codes and instructs all the programming.
In a study published in Science, the team explained how they were able to modify the C2c2 enzyme to search and disperse particular chemical sequences. Having the capability to alter RNA can provide new ways of fighting diseases such as Huntington’s, cancer or even Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Dr. Zhang said that C2c2 opens the door to an entirely new frontier of powerful CRISPR tools.
RNA snipping can open up a wide range of scientific possibilities.
