Advances in biotechnology: Genomics and genome editing

Abstract

Genomics, the study of genes, their functions and related techniques has become a crucial science for developing understanding of life processes and how they evolve. Since the advent of the human genome project, huge strides have been made in developing understanding of DNA and RNA sequence information and how it can be put to good use in the biotechnology sector. Newly derived sequencing and bioinformatics tools have added to the torrent of new insights gained, so that ‘sequence once and query often’ type DNA apps are now becoming reality. Genome editing, using tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease or Cpf1 nuclease, provide rapid methods for inserting, deleting or modifying DNA sequences in highly precise ways, in virtually any animal, plant or microbial system. Recent international discussions have considered human germline gene editing, amongst other aspects of this technology. Whether or not gene edited plants will be considered as genetically modified remains an important question. This will determine the regulatory processes adopted by different groups of nations and applicability to feeding the world’s ever growing population. Questions surrounding the intellectual property rights associated with gene editing must also be resolved. Mitochondrial replacement therapy leading to ‘3-Parent Babies’ has been successfully carried out in Mexico, by an international team, to correct mother to child mitochondrial disease transmission. The UK has become the first country to legally allow ‘cautious use’ of mitochondrial donation in treatment. Genomics and genome editing will continue to advance what can be achieved technically, whilst society determines whether or not what can be done should be applied.

Contributions of biotechnology to meeting future food and environmental security needs

“…Costing perhaps as little as $50/g to synthesise, RNA spraying and subsequent interference with pest gene expression may provide a cost effective alternative to some types of genetic modification and pesticide applications (72,73). Clustered regularly interspersed palindromic repeats (CRISPR) using Cas9 or Cpf1 nucleases are becoming widely used in agriculture (74,75). This includes precise modifications to knock-in (add), or knock-out (delete) specific sequences where genomes are well understood (76).…”

Gene-Edited Baby by Chinese Scientist: the Opener of the Pandora’s Box

“…However, Rizvi has questioned whether the particular trial will succeed in the future. Rizvi argues that the extraction, modification of genes and cell multiplication is a huge process which is not easy to scale (8). The argument is based on the fact that unless the process proves to be highly efficient, it will be hard to conclude on the moving forward.…”

“…The argument is based on the fact that unless the process proves to be highly efficient, it will be hard to conclude on the moving forward. Rizvi doubts that the process will be SI 2018; 2018:e000178 www.bonoi.org 4 (Not for citation) more valuable as compared to the use of antibodies which can be used in large quantities in a clinic (8). The response to this question by saying that the trial is being evaluated and it is too early to decide on the approach to take.…”

“…However, the process may render a person to be more susceptible to West Nile Virus (10). The discussion focused on medical advances such as gene editing and especially those which have impacts on vulnerable population should be tested carefully with caution, discussed with patients, scientists, physicians, and the community members, and implemented with equally (8).…”

Transcriptome Analysis of Non‐Coding RNAs in Livestock Species: Elucidating the Ambiguity

“…Presently, four artiicially engineered nuclease systems have been developed for genome editing: meganucleases derived from microbial mobile elements, zinc inger nucleases (ZFNs) based on eukaryotic transcription factor DNA binding motif, transcription activator-like efector-based nucleases (TALEN) derived from a plan-invasive bacterial protein, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) system [208]. Centromere and Promoter Factor 1 (Cpf1) is used as an alternative to Cas9 nuclease which requires only a single CRISPR RNA (crRNA) for targeting [209]. CRISPR/Cas9 is easily applicable and has developed really fast over the past years since only programmable RNA is required to generate sequence speciicity [210].…”