CRISPR #3 - How Humans Use It
What could possibly be an application of a defense mechanism like CRISPR found in bacteria? To answer that, we first need to understand how the CRISPR system works. In the earlier blog , we understood that at a high level. But now we need to understand the details. Scientists identified the pieces that played different roles: tracrRNA : It acts as a handle to latch onto the attacking virus. CRISPR RNA, aka crRNA : It uses the latched on tracrRNA and in turn acts as the guide to identify the attacking virus. Think of it like the torch that highlights the point to attack. CRISPR associated enzyme, aka Cas enzyme : This is the scissor like enzyme that uses the guide crRNA to cut up the attacking virus. See how it works? The tracrRNA attaches itself to the virus. The crRNA uses the tracrRNA to identify the virus to the Cas enzyme, who then cuts up the virus, scissor like. Now we can get to the application that humans have devised based on this ancient bacterial...