CRISPR-Cas9 System Applications and Mechanisms

The video explains CRISPR, a revolutionary tool in molecular biology, initially discovered in E. coli. It details CRISPR's structure, consisting of repeating DNA sequences and unique spacers, and its function as a bacterial immune system against viruses. The CRISPR-Cas9 system, developed by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, is highlighted for its simplicity and potential in gene editing. The video discusses how CRISPR-Cas9 can inactivate or insert genes, offering possibilities for treating genetic disorders and engineering embryos.

What does the acronym CRISPR stand for?

• Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short RNA Repeats

• Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Protein Repeats

• Clustered Repeated Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats

• Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats

What is the function of the spacer DNA in the CRISPR system?

• It transcribes into proteins

• It forms hairpin turns

• It matches viral DNA sequences

• It is identical to the repeats

What type of proteins do cas genes produce?

• Ribosomal proteins

• Polymerases

• Helicases and nucleases

• Transcription factors

How does the CRISPR-Cas system help bacteria fight bacteriophages?

• By embedding viral DNA into the genome

• By producing antibodies

• By cutting and destroying viral DNA

• By creating new bacteriophages

Who were the scientists that identified the CRISPR-Cas9 system?

• James Watson and Francis Crick

• Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier

• Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins

• Kary Mullis and Paul Berg

What is the role of the guide RNA in the CRISPR-Cas9 system?

• To transcribe into proteins

• To provide the sequence information for cutting

• To hold the Cas9 protein in place

• To cut the DNA

What happens to the DNA after it is cut by the CRISPR-Cas9 system?

• It is immediately repaired without any changes

• It is left as is

• It undergoes insertions and deletions, creating mutations

• It forms new RNA sequences

How can the CRISPR-Cas9 system be used to insert a new gene?

• By using a tracer RNA

• By using only the guide RNA

• By using a guide RNA and host RNA

• By using only the Cas9 protein

What is one potential medical application of the CRISPR-Cas9 system?

• Producing new antibiotics

• Creating new types of bacteria

• Fixing genes in people with genetic diseases

• Developing new vaccines

What ethical consideration is associated with the use of CRISPR-Cas9?

• The cost of the technology

• The potential to engineer new embryos

• The difficulty in obtaining the necessary materials

• The complexity of the procedure