CRISPR Review

Front

What is a PAM in the context of CRISPR?

Back

A PAM (Protospacer Adjacent Motif) is a 3 bp sequence that is adjacent to viral DNA in a CRISPR array.

Front

What type of DNA repair mechanism creates a mutation and inactivates the gene after Cas9 cuts the target DNA?

Back

Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) is the repair mechanism that creates a mutation and inactivates the gene.

Front

Provide an example of a PAM sequence.

Back

AGG is an example of a PAM sequence.

Front

What is the role of guide RNA (gRNA) in the CRISPR-Cas9 mechanism?

Back

The guide RNA (gRNA) binds to the target DNA sequence and guides the Cas9 enzyme to the correct location.

Front

What does the acronym CRISPR stand for?

Back

CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly-Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.

Front

What is the function of the Cas9 enzyme in the CRISPR system?

Back

The Cas9 enzyme functions as a molecular scissors that cuts the target DNA at a specific location.

Front

How does CRISPR technology differ from traditional genetic modification methods?

Back

CRISPR technology allows for precise editing of specific genes, whereas traditional methods often involve random insertion of genes.

Front

What is the significance of the gRNA's sequence in CRISPR?

Back

The sequence of the gRNA is crucial as it determines the specificity of the Cas9 enzyme for the target DNA.

Front

What are the potential applications of CRISPR technology in medicine?

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CRISPR technology has potential applications in gene therapy, treating genetic disorders, and developing targeted cancer therapies.

Front

What are some ethical considerations surrounding the use of CRISPR technology?

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Ethical considerations include the potential for unintended consequences, germline editing, and the implications of 'designer babies'.