Crisprs

CRISPRs (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) are regions of bacterial DNA found in prokaryotic cells that have interspaced with sequences derived from viruses that have attacked the cell. The CRISPR associated (Cas) proteins recognize and bind to specific sequences of viral DNA, leading to the degradation of viral DNA and prevention of viral replication. This provides bacteria with a form of acquired immunity against viruses. In addition to its natural function in prokaryotes, CRISPRs have been genetically-engineered to be used in biotechnology and medical research. CRISPR technology is used to make precise, targeted changes to the genome of organisms, allowing researchers to turn genes "on and off" to study their function, as well as develop new treatments and cures for genetic diseases.