The genome editor CRISPR, whose invention is at the heart of a fierce patent battle, typically uses an RNA molecule (red) to guide a DNA-cutting enzyme such as Cas9 (orange) to a DNA sequence (blue) targeted for cutting. CARLOS CLARIVAN/Science Source

 February 14

For those interested in understanding some of the basic biology underlying the development of CRISPR, the online resources cited previously may be helpful. In addition, I have created a series of PowerPoint presentations that I hope will help guide you through the thicket of information (I’m thinking now of Brer Rabbit saying “Oh, please Brer Fox, whatever you do, please don’t throw me in that briar patch!”).

The PowerPoint files below are generously illustrated, but most of the explanatory information is given in the Notes section of each slide. To view the Notes, select Notes Page.

  1. CRISPR as a bacterial defense system

  2. CRISPR as a gene editing tool

  3. CRISPR Patents: bacteria vs human use

  4. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

The controversial Heroes of CRISPR paper by Eric Lander and an essay that criticizes Lander but makes some useful suggestions about how “science history” should be researched and presented.

A news piece in Science that summarizes the current status of the patent dispute between the Doudna-Charpentier group and the Zhang-Broad group.

Two back-to-back one-page opinion pieces, published in Nature, in which Jennifer Doudna urges caution on germline gene editing and George Church argues that we should encourage, not restrict, research on germline gene editing.

Follow-ups from class discussion:

Almost nothing is known about the current health of He Jianku’is CRISPR edited babies, Nana and Lulu. Here is one sensible report published in Science shortly after the births, which has a good discussion of the issues. No new information is available.