GENE EDITING: CRISPR-CAS9
In 1665, Robert Hooke discovered the cell. While looking a plant under a microscope, specifically a cork, Hooke saw walls enclosing a space. He called these "cells."
In 1869, Friedrich Miescher discovered DNA. While trying to extract cells from puss, he had unknowingly found DNA. At that time, it was believed that proteins carried heredity information, so Friedrich refused to believe that what he had discovered was the actual hereditary carrier.
In 1866, Gregory Mendel published a book on his findings from his pea plant experiment. Through this experiment, he found that genes are passed down. Mendel is considered the "Father of Genetics."
In 1928, Frederick Griffith conducted an experiment which proved that DNA was the genetic material. He was studying two different types of bacterium which caused pneumonia. Through this he found that there was a "transforming factor" from the dead bacteria which caused a heritable change in the living bacteria.
In 1952, from Frederick Griffith's experiment, an experiment by Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase was inspired. In this experiment, Hersey and Chase had worked with phages. From this experiment, they had confirmed that DNA was the genetic material in the cell.
In 1987, Japanese scientists discovered CRISPR. While studying E.coli, they found there were sections of DNA that were identical, and these segments were separated by something called "spacers." These spacers are all unique.
In 2007, Rodolph Barrangou found out that the CRISPR system helps bacteria with immunity. While doing an experiment, he saw that the "spacer" genes contained the DNA of the phage which attacked, and that it was necessary for the phages DNA to be apart of the spacer for the bacteria's immunity. He also found that the Cas9 gene was a vital function of the CRISPR system.
In 1955, an experiment done by Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall explained how the nervous system related to chronic pain. Through this experiment, the found out that there were physical effect on chronic pain. They named this theory the "gate control theory." They believed that the pain signals had to go though a series of gates which would either deny their continuation to the brain or let it continue.
In 2012, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudana invented the CRISP/CAS9 technology. This technology is a better, more efficient, and cheaper way of gene editing. Both women have received many award for their breakthrough in bioengineering.
Between 2013 and 2014, 3 gene editing companies opened up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. All companies strive to cure genetic diseases through gene editing with the CRISPR-CAS9 as a foundation. Many other companies have invested millions of dollars in these start-ups. The three companies are Edits, Intellia, and CRISPR Therapeutics.
In 2015, a one year old baby girl named Layla had been the first baby to survive Leukemia through gene editing. Layla has been suffering Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She was on the verge of dying, but with the new, innovative gene-editing tool. CRISPR-CAS-9, she survived.
In 2016, the CRISPR-CAS9 system was placed on the front cover of Time Magazine. From its great advances and breath-taking functions, it has proven to be one of the year 2016's greatest invention.
In 2017, a teenager from France had been cured from Sickle Cell Disease through gene therapy. He had been suffering for his whole life, but through gene editing, he was able to defeat the disease.