Category: CRISPR Advanced Certification Course

NOTE: If you are taking a CRISPR Course For the First Time we would recommend you to go through the basics first via CRISPR Technology Basics Certification Course

The genetic manipulation tool CRISPR has gained a lot of importance over the last decade. The acronym stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. This tool was first identified as a process of adaptive immunity in bacteria against bacteriophages. During infection, the viral genome is inserted into the bacteria. The bacteria have short unique sequences within the CRISPR sequence, flanked between repetitive sequences, called spacers. These act as memory banks, which hold the chronological information of past infections.

The uniqueness of this is that it can record both DNA and RNA encoded information. Once the foreign genetic material is identified, it is mapped back to the spacers, through which a single-stranded CRISPR RNA (crRNA) is created. This RNA is complementary and identifies unique recognition sequences called PAM (Protospacer Adjacent Motif). Accompanied by the nuclease it creates a target-specific nick in the DNA and destroys the incoming genetic material, thereby recording the instance for future attempts.

This technique was identified to be so unique, specific, and adaptable, that it caused a revolutionary change in the genetic engineering market.

[A] The designed single-guide RNA (sgRNA) contains the target gene (crRNA) as well as a guide element (tracrRNA).

[B] Cas9 cleaving enzyme recognizes and binds to the sgRNA, creating a complex that facilitates the binding of sgRNA and the endogenous target gene.

[C] All endogenous genes containing the target sequence are located and the CRISPR/Cas9 complex binds and cleaves the specific DNA.

[D] Upon excision, the broken endogenous target gene undergoes attempted repair via Non-Homologous End Repair (NHEJ). However, the error-prone method results in a non-functional sequence, rendering the target gene as well as its downstream mediators inactive.

There are numerous applications for this technique. It has been used to create and research on various disease models, to treat human diseases. It is being used to create genetically engineered crops for high productivity and improved quality. The applications move on to improving the IVF process as well as creating transgenic disease-free vectors like malaria resistant mosquitoes. The more extensive the applications are becoming, the more ethical concerns are being raised. The most important question now lies in ‘Should CRISPR have access to every genome, including germline and how should its public access be restricted?”

The CRISPR Advanced course has 14 unique modules that will describe the technology and its applications and derivatives. From the knowledge of the different Cas systems that are being utilized to understand how the system has evolved over a period of time, this course will help you understand how to design your own experiment and create all the unique sequences and tools required for this process.

CRISPR not only indicates gene knockout or silencing, but it can also be used for activating the gene of interest. The CRISPRi and CRISPRa session will open this discussion. When one utilizes CRISPR, there are many chances of the experiment going against the desired outcome. This can be identified and curbed in the session on CRISPR on and off-target analysis. In a similar manner, this course will help you understand the whole evolution of this process including the many benefits and the debatable drawbacks of this amazing tool that has revolutionized the concept of therapy and research.