Snippets of Science for everyone. Enjoy with a cup of tea by Kate Comisso
Bacteria use CRISPR for defence; what will we do with it? From the potato to the human, a new tool can manipulate genes to change organisms with a combination of accuracy, speed, flexibility and low cost that we've never seen before. It is so easy to use there's even a do-it-yourself kit . That's right - everyone can now tinker with genes. Imagine what the experts can do. Should we be scared or excited? The new technique could lead to organ transplants from pigs , population-wide sterilization of malaria-carrying mosquitoes , the eradication of genetic disorders from an entire family line, a cure for HIV , and the great auk brought back from extinction after nearly 200 years. Great auk, currently extinct Image: John Gerrard Keulemans That is the potential of CRISPR (“crisper”), a tool that is used in nature by bacteria to defend themselves against viruses. If a bacterium survives a viral attack, it can sometimes take a part of the viral DNA and s