Scientists are working on the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique that could manipulate specific traits in plants. CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. This technology allows scientists to modify a plant's genome in a way that could obtain or edit specific characteristics in plants.

This technology has also been used to modify pigs so that their organs can be transplanted into human bodies. CRISPR could mean the difference between life and death for many people.

CRISPR is a technique that allows deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to be added, removed, or replaced in plant genomes. The new CRISPR technique, or CRISPR-Cas9, will enable scientists to cultivate plants with desirable traits such as increased productivity and virus resistance.

CRISPR-Cas9 technology is helping farmers develop plants with more robust and more sustainable resilience by making them immune to temperature fluctuations, fungi, and pests. Furthermore, the technology will enable scientists to advance sustainable agricultural systems.

What is CRISPR, and how does it work?

CRISPR, otherwise known as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, is a defense mechanism used by bacteria. It is also at the core of the CRISPR-Cas9 system.

CRISPR as a molecule is made up of short palindromic DNA sequences that are repeated along the molecule and are regularly spaced. Between these sequences are “spacers,” foreign DNA sequences from organisms that have previously attacked the bacteria.

The CRISPR immune systems safeguards bacteria in three steps:

1. Adaptation
2. Production of CRISPR RNA
3. Targeting

Researchers can use CRISPR gene editing to develop better crops. Additionally, in place of viral DNA as spacers, researchers can create their own sequences based on the specific gene of interest. When the gene’s sequence is known, it can be used for CRISPR gene editing. In that case, the gene will act as a spacer and guide the Cas9 protein to a DNA matching sequence.

CRISPR-cas9 enables researchers to do the following:

1. Gene Knock-Out
2. Gene Insertions or “Knock-Ins”
3. DNA-Free Gene Editing
4. Transient Gene Silencing

Applications of CRISPR Gene Editing in Agriculture

Researchers have found that the CRISPR-Cas9 system can be applied to nearly every organism. Several studies using CRISPR-Cas9 for gene editing have focused on crops important for agriculture, such as soybeans, corn, and wheat.

For example, CRISPR has been used for editing the genome of rice by a team Ying Wang from Syngenta Biotechnology China. It created many CRISPR sgRNAs and was able to successfully delete the fragments of dense and erect panicle1 (DEP1) gene in India rice line IR58025B. This reduced the plant’s height.

It did a similar experiment on Soyabean, where it successfully delayed the flowering resulting in increased vegetative size.

While CRISPR will likely replace the previous method for plant breeding, marker-assisted selection, it can still only be used on a single genome at a time. However, further research might allow CRISPR to be used on multiple genomes at once, making it a more powerful tool for shaping plants and their properties.

New Era of Genome Editing

Scientists have successfully and safely integrated the CRISPR-Cas9 system into various plant species. This includes typical plants, such as Arabidopsis, and crops that include rice, tobacco, sorghum, wheat, and maize.

Various genome editing techniques have been used on plants including calli, leaf discs, and protoplasts. The reason for using this system is to enhance abiotic or biotic stress resistance and increase grain yield in crop plants.

It’s important to note that the introduced mutations are inherited by the next generation of plants showing that this method can be used across a wide range of plants for agricultural research and the development of better plants, including rare or wild plants.

Although using CRISPR/Cas9 might be an excellent option for gene editing and other processes, one challenge associated is the fact that it can be challenging to ensure that you are only targeting the part of the DNA you intend to edit.

Genome editing is of interest in human genome research. Genome editing is a way that DNA can be manipulated or customized to match specific instructions. While this procedure has been underway using therapeutic tools, plants, and animal models, scientists are still researching its safety before it can be used on humans.