#44 CRISPR

McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT

CRISPR is a genetic editing technology that will change the future of genetics. In the past 3 years it has been used in labs throughout the world. It has the potential to fix point mutations and larger mutations in our genome. Diseases caused by point mutations include Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Anemia, and Tay-Sachs disease. More complex conditions such as cancer, HIV or autism could be cured if the RNA gene editing is developed further. On March 16th, 2016, it was published that RNA was successfully targeted for the first time. This is just the beginning of CRISPR.

Listen to hear how CRISPR works and how it was discovered. Get the inside scoop on the current research, ethics, politics, and patents.