CRISPR genome editing and its medical applications

• Main Authors: Mohammad-Reza Mahmoudian-sani, Gholamreza Farnoosh, Ali Mahdavinezhad, Massoud Saidijam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018-03-01
• Series: Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment
• Subjects: CRISPR; CRISPR-Cas9; genome editing
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13102818.2017.1406823

Genome editing has always been a challenging area as a means to provide more efficient ways to create a meaningful change in the genome. Today, the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) restoration system is considered as one of the suitable and promising options for genome editing. This system has many advantages compared to the previous gene-editing methods developed in this area. Compared to the previous systems, CRISPR can deactivate or eliminate a gene without interfering with intracellular mechanisms. The system can be used in the treatment of diseases and in related research with identifying the performance of defective genes in these diseases. CRISPR has more potentials and applications compared to previous systems. Among these applications, we can note the use of CRISPR in understanding genetic and epigenetic diseases such as cancer. Study of cancer by the CRISPR system is done by two approaches: turning off the oncogenes and turning on the tumour suppressor genes. According to the exact capability of CRISPR, this system can also be used to create exact mutations in different cell lines to model the cancers. This type of modeling can lead to a better understanding of cancer and the ability to develop effective drugs.