Ailaun SetoApril 1, 2014Genetics Biol 30---The New York Times: CrisprCrisprThis New York Times article, “A Powerful New Way to Edit DNA” by Andrew Pollack talks about the molecular system called Crispr, also known as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. Crispr was first discovered in the late 1980s by scientists who noticed repeated and unusual DNA sequences next to a gene they were studying in a bacteria. However, their significance was unknown until it became possible to sequence the entire genome of bacteria. Scientists then noticed that these repeated DNA sequences appeared in many bacterial species. It wasn't until 2007, when researchers working for a company that supplied bacterial cultures used in cheese and yogurt manufacturing, confirmed the hypothesis that Crispr acted as an immune system in bacteria to fight off virus. Crispr acts in bacteria as part of the adaptive system. immune system, where the immune system works by remembering previous encounters with pathogens and viruses. Crisprs, repeated DNA sequences, are located in the genome where they are separated from each other by other sequences called “spacers”. These “spacers” contain sequences from previous pathogens and viruses that the immune system has already encountered, allowing the body to “remember” what is and is not harmful. Crispr works by splicing the DNA sequence so that the system remembers the DNA sequence of the virus and can destroy it again in the future. A new “spacer” will appear each time a new pathogen or virus invades, creating this Crispr region, which is essentially a record of all previous encounters with viruses. Crispr is now used in a variety of ways, one of which is using . ..... middle of paper ......Crispr work. I understand that using Crispr on DNA could result in unwanted side effects that could damage or permanently disable non-targeted genes, but I believe this possibility is present in all methods used to work with DNA. DNA. However, it appears that Crispr is a more target-specific method than other methods currently known or used. As for the ethical concerns, these are certainly valid concerns, but I believe that Crispr's other multiple uses can advance society for the better. For example, “designer babies” are an ethical concern because children can then be genetically modified, but what if they were genetically modified so as not to inherit a life-threatening disease simply by changing their genes? It seems to me that the possibilities offered by the work and the use of Crispr would create a better quality of life for society..