Genome Editing

Genome Editing the term 'genome' refers to the entire genetic material of an organism or species. An organism's genome contains all the genetic information of that organism. Generally, an organism's genome is the sum of all the cell's DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules. For RNA (ribonucleic acid) viruses, the genome is the entire RNA molecules of that virus.

By making specific changes in any part of the genome sequence of a particular organism, desired characteristics can be added or modified in that organism. Genome editing technology is the technology to precisely modify the desired characteristics of an organism by deleting, adding, or changing the sequence of nucleotides in DNA. Genome editing is similar to editing text in a word processor on a computer. Just as we can change any word or letter in writing willingly, scientists have developed some technology that allows them to alter genes in the genome. It is called genome editing. Genome editing is the technology to modify living organisms as easily as computer software precisely. Although it may sound like science fiction, genome editing is now a reality in biotechnology.

There are now four known techniques for modifying the human genome. They are zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), transcription-activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN), meganuclease, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas) system. Among them, CRISPR-Cas is the latest addition to genome editing technology and is currently the most popular and effective approach. For genome editing, except CRISPR-Cas, other techniques are complicated and not user-friendly. ZFN and TALEN are cumbersome as they require complicated protein digestion, synthesis, and validity.

Genome editing is a rapid and accurate tool for creating new, high-yielding crop varieties that are adapted to changing climates. This method has already been used for genome editing on many organisms, including plants. Not only in agriculture, but genome editing technology will also revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of genetic and metabolic diseases in humans and animals. [Md Tofazzal Islam]