It looks like we are just on the verge of getting to see the first hand use of CRISPR. What is that, you may be wondering? CRISPR is a very powerful gene-editing tool that is meant to solve one of the toughest parts of being a doctor, namely coming up with what is wrong with a patient. Yes, there are a number of tools out there and theoretical books that are meant to aid and lessen the work of a doctor so that he or she can come up with a diagnostic as fast as possible. However, according to sources, CRISPR would be the first tool that would be both time-efficient and cost-effective as well.
More about CRISPR
One of the co-inventors of this amazing tool is Jennifer Doudna, a researcher form the University of California, Berkley. Mammoth Biosciences has already come out to say that they will be some of the first to integrate this technology into their disease detection process. They want to create easy to use kits and even a mobile app so that doctors would have an easier time detecting a disease and that, in some cases, one could detect a disease even in the comfort of their own home.
What makes CRISPR amazing?
It is able to detect pieces of DNA and when combined with different proteins such as Cas12 and Cas13 it can go so far as detecting leftover pieces of virus DNA left by diseases such as ZIka and even a mutation left over by a cancer cell.
CRISPR has been programmed by Doudna to detect and cut out bits of HPV in order to test out how effective it would. The result turned out to be amazing. Researchers believe that a CRISPR test could be as inexpensive as possible, coming up at 2 dollars per test which would make it easy to use in poor countries not only due to the price but also to the fact that it is very reliable.
As our second lead editor, Anna C. Mackinno provides guidance on the stories Great Lakes Ledger reporters cover. She has been instrumental in making sure the content on the site is clear and accurate for our readers. If you see a particularly clever title, you can likely thank Anna. Anna received a BA and and MA from Fordham University.