Question

Suppose everyone had access to free CRISPR/CAS9 based gene editing to correct mutations at embryonic level. Now answer briefly the following questions

1) Is it true or false that you might not need an artificial repair template to correct the mutation? Explain the reason for your answer (no more than 1 brief sentence).

2) What could still be an ethical concern with gene editing on embryo? Limit your answer to 1 concern.

Answer 1

Ans: CRISPR/Cas9 based gene editing tool has 3 components mainly, guide RNA which is the RNA that is complementary to the gene which needs to be modified, Cas9 is the enzyme that cuts the gene in the DNA at the site guided by the guide RNA and a template DNA for repairing.

The template DNA for repairing is sometimes optional depending how the editing needs to be done. If we dont want to insert any extra base or delete a base, then a repair template is provided.

Similarly to correct a mutation in the embryo, we need to provide the template which contains the sequence that corrects the mutation that the repair enzymes will use it to insert and remove the mutated fragment.

Hence, it is false that we might need not require an artificial repair template. Artificial template must be provided so that any other base should not be added or deleted.

Hope this will help you.