The discovery of genetic scissors
Did you know it is now possible to change the code of life over the course of a few weeks? With the help of CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors, scientists are now able to modify genes in cells more efficiently and easily (1).
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats) was first discovered in Escherichia coli bacteria, a germ commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms, in the sequences of DNA and described in 1987 by researchers at Osaka University (2). Although the sequencing of these DNA fragments took many months, with neither their origin nor significance in the bacterial cell understood by their discoverers, scientists proposed a way to use the information encoded in CRISPR for genotyping various strains of bacteria. CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9), a nuclease, is the “genetic scissors” belonging to the system of direction-cutting DNA, and is one of the most studied out of all the known Cas proteins.
The CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors were discovered by Emmanuelle Charpentier and recreated with the assistance of Jennifer A. Doudna in 2011 (1). Doudna and Charpentier successfully recreated the bacteria’s genetic scissors in a test tube by isolating the components of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. They were also able to reprogram genetic scissors to make it easier to use by simplifying their molecular components. These scissors can recognize and help mutate DNA from viruses and cut any DNA molecule at a predetermined site. Not only do these techniques manipulate the genomes of organisms and modify characteristics of important crops and animals, but they also introduce revolutionary changes in medicines and treatments for genetic diseases and new cancer therapies (3). Doudna and Charpentier were both later awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry by The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 2020 for “the development of a method for genome editing.” In addition to winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, both scientists received a L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award in 2016, an award presented annually to five outstanding female scientists in recognition of their scientific accomplishments (2).
Currently, CRISPR/Cas9 has successfully treated life-threatening diseases, acts as a COVID detection test, and even modifies human embryo cells, allowing babies to carry the introduced modifications. Furthermore, it helps eliminate any genetic flaws that may cause diseases like cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy in certain areas of the body, such as the lungs or muscles (2).
Overall, CRISPR is an efficient tool that accurately edits genes. This programmable gene-editing system, created by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, paved the way for countless applications in basic science, medicine, and agriculture (4).
Bibliography
- Chemistry, in. (2020). Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020. NobelPrize.org. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2020/press-release/
- Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier win 2020 Nobel Prize in. (2020). Unesco.Org. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/jennifer-doudna-and-emmanuelle-charpentier-win-2020-nobel-prize-chemistry
- Gostimskaya, I. (2022). CRISPR–Cas9: A History of Its Discovery and Ethical Considerations of Its Use in Genome Editing. Biochemistry (Moscow), 87(8), 777–788. https://doi.org/10.1134/s0006297922080090
- Spaude, J. (2025, August 13). Nobel Prize Awarded to Jennifer Doudna And Emmanuelle Charpentier For CRISPR Discovery. Synthego. https://www.synthego.com/blog/gene-editing-nobel-prize/
Images
- Spaude, J. (2025, August 13). Nobel Prize Awarded to Jennifer Doudna And Emmanuelle Charpentier For CRISPR Discovery. Synthego. https://www.synthego.com/blog/gene-editing-nobel-prize/
- Irfan, U., Belluz, J., Plumer, B., & Barclay, E. (2018, July 23). A simple guide to CRISPR, one of the biggest science stories of the decade. Vox. https://www.vox.com/2018/7/23/17594864/crispr-cas9-gene-editing
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