ABSTRACT
CRISPR/Cas 9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology is an advanced biotechnological tool that enables precise gene editing in diverse biological systems from plants to animals including humans. This technology allows the addition and removal of genetic material or altering the genetic materials at specific locations in the genome by replacing an existing sequence with a customized DNA segment. Numerous biological disciplines, especially agriculture have benefited greatly from the application of CRISPR systems. It is a continuation of what man has been doing since plants were first domesticated, selecting for characteristics such as higher yields, longer shelf life, tolerance to drought, and various stresses for better nutrition. CRISPR/Cas9 system has two components: a protein called CAS 9 for cutting DNA and a guide RNA molecule (gRNA) which together form a complex that recognizes and cuts specific segments of DNA. The repair process involves either insertion or deletion of DNA, or to induce changes in DNA by replacing the native gene with a customized DNA segment. The repair process is often error-prone and induces mutations that disable the genes, which makes it an efficient tool for knocking-out specific genes. Unlike the other first-generation gene techniques, CRISPR/Cas9 can produce (non-GMO) crops with desired traits.
