Genetic Editing: The Marvels and Concerns of a Revolutionary Technology

Humans have directed genetic modifications for thousands of years through selective breeding. However, the precise mechanism was not truly understood until the discovery of DNA and the genetic code. We are at a crucial point today with a breakthrough called the CRISPR/ Cas9 system—short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat DNA Sequences/CRISPRassociated protein 9 system, hereafter called CRISPR. CRISPR grabs our attention because it enables potent, specific, and accurate methods of genome editing in every type of cell (bacterial, animal, and plant). It is an extremely versatile and equally controversial new technology. Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is uniquely poised as an educational and clinical research hub, and the clinical faculty members can benefit from gaining expertise in new technologies with a wide range of medical applications. Nonetheless, as NSU faculty members venture into this new research arena, it is important to consider the ethical implications of CRISPR’s capabilities