A Powerful New Way to Edit DNA
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This New York Times article explores a revolutionary gene-editing technique called CRISPR that allows scientists to modify DNA with unprecedented precision and efficiency. CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, which are unique DNA sequences found in bacteria. The article explains how researchers have harnessed the CRISPR system to target and edit specific genes in various organisms, including human cells. It highlights the potential applications of this technology in treating genetic diseases, creating genetically modified organisms, and even potentially eradicating certain viruses. While the CRISPR technique has generated excitement, it also raises ethical concerns regarding the potential misuse and unintended consequences of gene editing.