Which role(s) does the enzyme Cas9 play in genome editing? The Role of Cas9 Enzyme in Genome Editing

The Role of Cas9 Enzyme in Genome Editing

The enzyme Cas9, a type of nuclease, has become a key player in genome editing in recent years. Cas9 functions by cleaving double-stranded DNA at a target site, making it possible to modify the genetic information of an organism (Gaj et al., 2016). This process is highly efficient, as evidenced by its widespread use in gene therapy and other biomedical applications (Carli et al., 2020). Cas9 is also used to create transgenic organisms, which can be used to study gene function and understand the effects of genetic mutations (Kapust et al., 2021). In addition to its use in gene therapy, Cas9 has also been employed in agricultural biotechnology. For instance, crop plants can be modified to resist herbicides or produce higher yields (Hao et al., 2016). Similarly, Cas9 can be used to modify livestock, such as pigs, to better optimize their farming and breeding characteristics (Liu et al., 2021).
Finally, Cas9 is also being explored as a tool for gene drive, which is a technique for rapidly spreading a desired trait through a population. This could be used to combat disease-carrying insects, such as mosquitoes (Gantz et al., 2016). Cont….