CRISPIR Flashcards
What does CRISPIR stand for?
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat
What is cas9? What does it stand for, and what does it do?
This acts as a pair of ‘molecular scissors’ that can cut the two strands of DNA at a specific location in the genome so that bits of DNA can then be added or removed.
Stands for CRISPR associated protein 9.
(Taken from https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-crispr-cas9)
What is guide RNA (gRNA)?
A piece of RNA called guide RNA (gRNA). This consists of a small piece of pre-designed RNA sequence (about 20 bases long) located within a longer RNA scaffold. The scaffold part binds to DNA and the pre-designed sequence ‘guides’ Cas9 to the right part of the genome. This makes sure that the Cas9 enzyme cuts at the right point in the genome.
The guide RNA is designed to find and bind to a specific sequence in the DNA. The guide RNA has RNA bases? that are complementary? to those of the target DNA sequence in the genome. This means that, at least in theory, the guide RNA will only bind to the target sequence and no other regions of the genome.
(Taken from https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-crispr-cas9)
What is biohacking? What are some examples?
Biohackers talk about “optimizing” and “upgrading” their minds and bodies, and they’ve got many ways of trying to do that. Some are techniques that people have been using free of cost for centuries, like Vipassana meditation and intermittent fasting.
The three most popular types are nutrigenomics, DIY biology, and grinder.
(Taken from https://www.healthline.com/health/biohacking#types and Vox.com)
In what ways does CRISPR echo the eugenics movement? In what ways is it different?
Echoes the movement as “unhealthy” traits are taken out of the equation, which eugenics strongly advocates for.
It is different as this has more of a basis in removing diseases, but it might be used later on for designer babies.
