22 Facts About CRISPR

CRISPR (an acronym for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a family of DNA sequences found in the genomes of prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria and archaea.

The first description of what would later be called CRISPR is from Osaka University researcher Yoshizumi Ishino and his colleagues in 1987.

Major addition to the understanding of CRISPR came with Jansen's observation that the prokaryote repeat cluster was accompanied by a set of homologous genes that make up CRISPR-associated systems or cas genes.

In 2005, three independent research groups showed that some CRISPR spacers are derived from phage DNA and extrachromosomal DNA such as plasmids.

In 2007, the first experimental evidence that CRISPR was an adaptive immune system was published.

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CRISPR has been modified to make programmable transcription factors that allow scientists to target and activate or silence specific genes.

CRISPR array is made up of an AT-rich leader sequence followed by short repeats that are separated by unique spacers.

CRISPR-Cas immunity is a natural process of bacteria and archaea.

RNA-guided CRISPR enzymes are classified as type V restriction enzymes.

Analysis of CRISPR sequences revealed coevolution of host and viral genomes.

Basic model of CRISPR evolution is newly incorporated spacers driving phages to mutate their genomes to avoid the bacterial immune response, creating diversity in both the phage and host populations.

However, this CRISPR added 3 spacers over 17 months, suggesting that even in an environment with significant CRISPR diversity some loci evolve slowly.

CRISPR evolution was studied in chemostats using S thermophilus to directly examine spacer acquisition rates.

CRISPR technology has been applied in the food and farming industries to engineer probiotic cultures and to immunize industrial cultures against infections.

Hsu and his colleagues state that the ability to manipulate the genetic sequences allows for reverse engineering that can positively affect biofuel production CRISPR can be used to change mosquitos so they cannot transmit diseases such as malaria.

CRISPR-based approaches utilizing Cas12a have recently been utilized in the successful modification of a broad number of plant species.

In July 2019, CRISPR was used to experimentally treat a patient with a genetic disorder.

In March 2020, CRISPR-modified virus was injected into a patient's eye in an attempt to treat Leber congenital amaurosis.

CRISPR-based re-evaluations of claims for gene-disease relationships have led to the discovery of potentially important anomalies.

CRISPR associated nucleases have shown to be useful as a tool for molecular testing due to their ability to specifically target nucleic acid sequences in a high background of non-target sequences.

CRISPR diversity is used as an analysis target to discern phylogeny and diversity in bacteria, such as in xanthomonads by Martins et al.

The AIOD-CRISPR helps with robust and highly sensitive visual detection of the viral nucleic acid.