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DR. FRANKENSTEIN, OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE CRISPR-CAS9
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ABSTRACT:
This comment examines the newly developed CRISPR-Cas9 genetic modification technology and discusses tentative steps towards new international regulations within which CRISPR-Cas9 users may operate. Researchers discovered that bacteria used CRISPR-clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-DNA sequences to encapsulate invasive phage DNA to defend themselves. While determining how bacteria used CRISPR DNA sequences to defend against invading phages, researchers discovered the CRISPR associated protein-Cas9-that efficiently cleaves DNA. One research team realized it could use the Cas9 protein to cleave DNA at any target in any organism. Since its development in 2013, genetic modification researchers around the world have adopted CRISPR-Cas9 as the premier genetic modification technology and are operating with no clear regulatory framework. This comment discusses how CRISPR-Cas9 democratizes genetic modification, provoking a new regulatory approach. I consider the current regulatory frameworks that could regulate CRISPR-Cas9's use, development, and commercialization. I then discuss the regulatory proposals for the similarly situated three-dimensional (3D) printing technology and nanotechnology and consider the potential pitfalls of applying these regulatory proposals to the CRISPR-Cas9 technology. I conclude the existing regulations that may capture CRISPR-Cas9 are unenforceable and that there is little willingness to create an internationally binding regulatory framework. I further conclude that private ordering may be an effective regulation strategy for this rapidly adopted and powerful new technology.
The CRISPR-Cas9 genetic modification technology is a comparatively inexpensive,1 widely available, and easy to use site-specific DNA cleaving-cutting-technology used to modify DNA.2 Researchers discovered that bacteria used CRISPR-clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats3- DNA sequences to encapsulate invasive phage DNA to defend themselves. While determining how bacteria used CRISPR DNA sequences to defend against invading phages, researchers discovered the CRISPR associated protein4-Cas9-that the bacteria use to cleave-cut-DNA. One research team realized it could use the Cas9 protein to cleave DNA at any target in...