What is CRISPR? Summary

• Gene Editing Revolution: CRISPR (pronounced “crisper”) is a revolutionary gene-editing technology that allows scientists to alter DNA sequences with unprecedented precision, efficiency, and ease.
• Bacterial Immune System: CRISPR is based on a natural defense mechanism used by bacteria to protect themselves from viruses.
• “Molecular Scissors”: It acts like a pair of “molecular scissors” that can cut DNA at a specific location, allowing scientists to remove, add, or replace genetic material.
• Two Key Components: CRISPR involves two main components: a “guide RNA” (gRNA) that targets a specific DNA sequence, and a CRISPR-associated protein (Cas9 is the most common) that acts as the “scissors.”
• Targeted and Precise: Unlike older gene-editing techniques, CRISPR is highly targeted and precise, minimizing the risk of off-target effects.
• Wide Range of Applications: CRISPR has a vast array of potential applications, including treating genetic diseases, developing new drugs, creating disease-resistant crops, and even modifying insects to prevent the spread of disease.
• Ethical Concerns: CRISPR raises significant ethical concerns about the safety of altering the human genome, the potential for unintended consequences, and the possibility of using it for non-therapeutic purposes (“designer babies”).
• Distinct from Bioelectricity: While CRISPR modifies the *DNA sequence* (the “hardware”), bioelectricity focuses on the *electrical signals* (the “software”) that control how genes are *interpreted*. They are *different* but *potentially complementary* approaches to biological control.  
  • Bioelectricity – “Editing at execution”: Dr Levin emphasized often this represents entirely separate yet crucial layer to biology – one is modifying genetic codes; while the other changes what to DO using the same, default, unmodifed genomic capacity.
• Current methods does not equal capability toward an Anatomical Compiler CRISPR enables the edit, construction/removal for protein parts; unlike direct experiment demonstrating voltage pattern information at bio-electrical cell network! This implies, one does *bottom up* hardware modification vs *top down* execution re-write: Thus explaining vast, system level differences where Biocompiler requires, with memory, electrical pattern memory, goal setting and pursuit.

A Revolution in Genetic Engineering

Imagine being able to edit the text of a book – to correct typos, rewrite sentences, or even add entirely new chapters – with pinpoint accuracy. That’s, in essence, what CRISPR technology allows scientists to do with DNA, the blueprint of life.

CRISPR (pronounced “crisper,” and standing for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a revolutionary gene-editing tool that has transformed the field of biology. It’s faster, cheaper, more accurate, and easier to use than previous gene-editing techniques, making it accessible to researchers around the world.

Borrowed from Bacteria: A Natural Defense Mechanism

Surprisingly, CRISPR is not a human invention. It’s based on a natural defense mechanism that bacteria use to protect themselves from viruses. When a virus infects a bacterium, the bacterium captures small pieces of the viral DNA and incorporates them into its own genome, in a region called CRISPR.

These captured DNA sequences act like a “memory” of past infections. If the same virus attacks again, the bacterium uses the CRISPR sequences to create RNA molecules that match the viral DNA. These RNA molecules then guide a CRISPR-associated protein (Cas), like Cas9, to the viral DNA, where the Cas protein *cuts* the viral DNA, disabling the virus.

This represents incredible, accurate capability of cells:

• Memory
• Target selection
• And molecular-tool manipulation

The “Molecular Scissors”: How CRISPR Works

Scientists have adapted this natural bacterial system to create a powerful gene-editing tool. The CRISPR system, as used in the lab, has two main components:

1. A guide RNA (gRNA): This is a short RNA molecule that is designed to match a specific DNA sequence in the target organism (human, animal, plant, etc.). It acts like a “GPS” guiding the system to the precise location in the genome that needs to be edited.
2. A CRISPR-associated protein (Cas): Cas9 is the most commonly used Cas protein. It acts like a pair of “molecular scissors,” cutting the DNA double helix at the location specified by the gRNA.

Once the DNA is cut, the cell’s natural repair mechanisms kick in. There are two main ways the cell can repair the break:

• Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ): This is a quick and dirty repair mechanism that often introduces small insertions or deletions (indels) at the cut site. This can be used to *disrupt* a gene, effectively turning it “off.”
• Homology-Directed Repair (HDR): If a DNA template with the desired sequence is provided along with the CRISPR system, the cell can use this template to repair the break, effectively *inserting* or *replacing* the existing DNA sequence with the new one.

Targeted and Precise: The Advantages of CRISPR

CRISPR offers several key advantages over earlier gene-editing technologies:

• Precision: The gRNA can be designed to target a very specific DNA sequence, minimizing the risk of “off-target” effects (cutting DNA at unintended locations).
• Efficiency: CRISPR is highly efficient, meaning that it can successfully edit a large proportion of the target cells.
• Ease of Use: CRISPR is relatively easy to design and use, compared to previous gene-editing techniques, making it accessible to a wider range of researchers.
• Multiplexing: It’s possible to target multiple genes simultaneously using multiple gRNAs.

Applications: From Medicine to Agriculture

CRISPR has a vast array of potential applications, spanning many fields:

• Treating Genetic Diseases: CRISPR could potentially be used to correct genetic mutations that cause diseases like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and Huntington’s disease.
• Developing New Drugs: CRISPR can be used to identify and validate drug targets, and to create cellular models of disease for drug screening.
• Creating Disease-Resistant Crops: CRISPR can be used to engineer crops that are resistant to pests, diseases, or environmental stresses.
• Modifying Insects: CRISPR could be used to control populations of disease-carrying insects, like mosquitoes that transmit malaria or Zika virus. This is the “gene drive” concept.
• Basic Research: CRISPR is an invaluable tool for studying gene function and understanding the basic mechanisms of life.
• And in Bio-materials CRISPR tools allow better material control that is very useful and deployed frequently in bioreactor/scaffold designs for example.

Ethical Concerns: A Powerful Tool, But with Risks

CRISPR technology raises significant ethical concerns. While most discussion is limited toward a few areas, there has been a continued increase over scope/type/ethical impacts CRISPR holds.

• Germline Editing: Making genetic changes at earlier embryonic stage has the highest concern, controversy (the case in China resulted criminal charges).
• “Designer Babies”: The possibility of using CRISPR to enhance human traits (intelligence, athletic ability, appearance) raises concerns about fairness, equality, and the very definition of “human.”  Most agree it is inappropriate, and highly controversial.
• Off target issue: CRISPR system is *accurate* but can make mistake (like, changing part/sequence unintentionally at other sections of DNA!)
• And many other concerns!

CRISPR and Bioelectricity: Different Approaches, Potential Synergies

It’s crucial to understand that CRISPR and bioelectricity represent fundamentally *different* approaches to biological control. The changes and manipulation happen over totally different dimensions within tissues, bodies, even within simple cell:

• CRISPR: Modifies the *DNA sequence* – the “hardware” of the cell. It’s like rewriting the underlying code of a computer program. This may not actually change final morphology because *many* programs will use the changed part in complex/unknown and/or *unknowable* manner.
• Bioelectricity: Manipulates the *electrical signals* – the “software” – that control how genes are *interpreted* and how cells behave. It’s like changing the *instructions* that the program is executing, without altering the underlying code.
  • The electrical change (in Bioelectricity) could modify or “decide” a certain outcome regardless of lower-level changes at the individual gene level.
  • Genes code instructions for molecules/protein and those have to operate with the context of electrical polarity/network (they interact!)

These two approaches are not mutually exclusive. They could potentially be used in *combination* to achieve even greater control over biological systems. For example:

• CRISPR could be used to introduce genes for specific *ion channels* into cells.
• Then, bioelectric techniques could be used to *control* the activity of those channels, fine-tuning the cells’ behavior. This has already shown in current researches – to use known genes/methods toward better *system-level, or larger anatomical level change that could become lasting.

It requires multiple fields (including bio, electronics, computer simulations, philosophy (toward a conceptual unification toward “intelligence, biological bodies”!) for a system that is anything comparable toward concept Levin proposes (“biocompiler”).  CRISPR shows how gene modification, even with such significant capabilities as shown already, requires broader information patterns/context – “bioelectric field/layout” which, has been established and researched widely within field, for their *instructive role*.

CRISPR and the Anatomical Compiler: Distinct Technologies

While CRISPR is powerful tool, its not possible today to specify a limb-regrowth process for it. Because, as Levin group mentions frequently in publication, tissue memory/layout transcends DNA or protein structures!

• A two-head worm requires no DNA edit! Nor adding proteins and chemicals.
• The “memory”, body pattern and even (with simple testing, habits like associative conditioning) persist and appear accessible with methods distinct, unique to bio-electric mechanisms.

The Anatomical Compiler, with its focus on top-down, bioelectric control of form, is a conceptually different technology. CRISPR is about changing the *building blocks*, while the Anatomical Compiler is about changing the *building plan*. CRISPR, or gene editing in general represent different branch of technology/bio-sciences. One focuses bottom-up, while the other: top down, in system behavior.

Conclusion: A Powerful Tool, But Not a Silver Bullet

CRISPR is undoubtedly a revolutionary technology with immense potential. But it’s important to remember that it’s just one tool in the toolbox. It’s not a “silver bullet” that will solve all biological problems. A comprehensive understanding of life requires understanding not just the *genes*, but also the complex *interactions* between genes, proteins, and the *bioelectric signals* that shape our bodies. It includes both hardware and software, which scientists such as Dr. Levin work to investigate, and clarify.

什么是 CRISPR？摘要

• 基因编辑革命： CRISPR（发音为“crisper”）是一种革命性的基因编辑技术，使科学家能够以前所未有的精度、效率和易用性改变 DNA 序列。
• 细菌免疫系统： CRISPR 基于细菌用来保护自己免受病毒侵害的天然防御机制。
• “分子剪刀”： 它就像一把“分子剪刀”，可以在特定位置切割 DNA，允许科学家移除、添加或替换遗传物质。
• 两个关键组成部分： CRISPR 涉及两个主要组成部分：一个靶向特定 DNA 序列的“向导 RNA”(gRNA)，以及一个充当“剪刀”的 CRISPR 相关蛋白（Cas9 是最常见的）。
• 有针对性和精确性： 与旧的基因编辑技术不同，CRISPR 具有高度针对性和精确性，最大限度地降低了脱靶效应的风险。
• 广泛的应用： CRISPR 具有广泛的潜在应用，包括治疗遗传疾病、开发新药、培育抗病作物，甚至改造昆虫以防止疾病传播。
• 伦理问题： CRISPR 引发了关于改变人类基因组的安全性的重大伦理问题、意外后果的可能性以及将其用于非治疗目的（“设计婴儿”）的可能性。
• 不同于生物电： 虽然 CRISPR 修改 *DNA 序列*（“硬件”），但生物电侧重于控制基因如何被*解释*的*电信号*（“软件”）。它们是*不同*但*可能互补*的生物控制方法。
  • 生物电 ——“执行时编辑”： Levin 博士经常强调，这代表了一个完全独立但至关重要的生物学层面 —— 一个是修改遗传密码；而另一个则使用相同的、默认的、未修改的基因组能力来改变要做的事情。
• 当前方法不等于解剖编译器的能力： CRISPR 能够编辑、构建/移除蛋白质部分；与直接实验证明的生物电细胞网络中的电压模式信息不同！这意味着，一个是*自下而上*的硬件修改，而另一个是*自上而下*的执行重写：从而解释了生物编译器所需的具有记忆、电模式记忆、目标设定和追求的巨大系统级差异。

基因工程的一场革命

想象一下能够编辑一本书的文本 —— 纠正错别字、重写句子，甚至添加全新的章节 —— 而且具有极高的准确性。从本质上讲，这就是 CRISPR 技术允许科学家们用 DNA（生命的蓝图）做的事情。

CRISPR（发音为“crisper”，代表 Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats）是一种革命性的基因编辑工具，改变了生物学领域。它比以前的基因编辑技术更快、更便宜、更准确、更易于使用，使世界各地的研究人员都能使用它。

借用自细菌：一种天然防御机制

令人惊讶的是，CRISPR 并不是人类的发明。它基于细菌用来保护自己免受病毒侵害的天然防御机制。当病毒感染细菌时，细菌会捕获病毒 DNA 的小片段，并将它们整合到自己的基因组中，在一个称为 CRISPR 的区域中。

这些捕获的 DNA 序列就像过去感染的“记忆”。如果相同的病毒再次攻击，细菌会使用 CRISPR 序列创建与病毒 DNA 匹配的 RNA 分子。然后，这些 RNA 分子引导 CRISPR 相关蛋白 (Cas)（如 Cas9）到达病毒 DNA，在那里 Cas 蛋白*切割*病毒 DNA，使病毒失效。

这代表了细胞令人难以置信的准确能力：

• 记忆
• 目标选择
• 和分子工具操纵

“分子剪刀”：CRISPR 的工作原理

科学家们已经调整了这种天然细菌系统，以创造出一种强大的基因编辑工具。实验室中使用的 CRISPR 系统有两个主要组成部分：

1. 向导 RNA (gRNA)： 这是一种短 RNA 分子，设计用于匹配目标生物（人类、动物、植物等）中的特定 DNA 序列。它就像一个“GPS”，将系统引导到基因组中需要编辑的精确位置。
2. CRISPR 相关蛋白 (Cas)： Cas9 是最常用的 Cas 蛋白。它就像一把“分子剪刀”，在 gRNA 指定的位置切割 DNA 双螺旋。

一旦 DNA 被切割，细胞的自然修复机制就会启动。细胞修复断裂的方式主要有两种：

• 非同源末端连接 (NHEJ)： 这是一种快速而粗糙的修复机制，通常会在切割位点引入小的插入或缺失 (indel)。这可用于*破坏*基因，有效地将其“关闭”。
• 同源定向修复 (HDR)： 如果与 CRISPR 系统一起提供具有所需序列的 DNA 模板，细胞可以使用此模板修复断裂，有效地用新序列*插入*或*替换*现有 DNA 序列。

有针对性和精确性：CRISPR 的优势

与早期的基因编辑技术相比，CRISPR 提供了几个关键优势：

• 精确性： gRNA 可以设计成靶向非常特定的 DNA 序列，从而最大限度地降低“脱靶”效应（在意外位置切割 DNA）的风险。
• 效率： CRISPR 非常高效，这意味着它可以成功编辑很大比例的靶细胞。
• 易用性： 与以前的基因编辑技术相比，CRISPR 相对容易设计和使用，使更多的研究人员可以使用它。
• 多重性： 可以使用多个 gRNA 同时靶向多个基因。

应用：从医学到农业

CRISPR 具有广泛的潜在应用，涵盖许多领域：

• 治疗遗传疾病： CRISPR 有可能用于纠正导致囊性纤维化、镰状细胞性贫血和亨廷顿舞蹈病等疾病的基因突变。
• 开发新药： CRISPR 可用于识别和验证药物靶点，并创建疾病的细胞模型以进行药物筛选。
• 培育抗病作物： CRISPR 可用于改造抗病虫害、疾病或环境压力的作物。
• 改造昆虫： CRISPR 可用于控制携带疾病的昆虫种群，如传播疟疾或寨卡病毒的蚊子。这就是“基因驱动”的概念。
• 基础研究： CRISPR 是研究基因功能和理解生命基本机制的宝贵工具。
• 以及在生物材料中： CRISPR 工具允许更好的材料控制，这非常有用，并且经常用于生物反应器/支架设计中。

伦理问题：强大的工具，但有风险

CRISPR 技术引发了重大的伦理问题。虽然大多数讨论仅限于几个领域，但对 CRISPR 的范围/类型/伦理影响的持续增加。

• 种系编辑： 在早期胚胎阶段进行基因改变是最受关注和争议的（中国的案例导致了刑事指控）。
• “设计婴儿”： 使用 CRISPR 增强人类特征（智力、运动能力、外貌）的可能性引发了对公平、平等和“人类”定义的担忧。大多数人认为这是不合适的，并且极具争议性。
• 脱靶问题： CRISPR 系统是*准确*的，但可能会出错（例如，在 DNA 的其他部分意外地改变部分/序列！）
• 以及许多其他担忧！

CRISPR 和生物电：不同的方法，潜在的协同作用

了解 CRISPR 和生物电代表了根本*不同*的生物控制方法至关重要。这些变化和操纵发生在组织、身体甚至简单细胞内的完全不同的维度上：

• CRISPR： 修改 *DNA 序列* —— 细胞的“硬件”。这就像重写计算机程序的底层代码。这实际上可能不会改变最终的形态，因为*许多*程序将以复杂/未知和/或*不可知*的方式使用改变的部分。
• 生物电： 操纵控制基因如何被*解释*以及细胞如何行为的*电信号* ——“软件”。这就像改变程序正在执行的*指令*，而不改变底层代码。
  • （生物电中的）电变化可以修改或“决定”某个结果，而不管单个基因水平上的较低水平变化。
  • 基因编码分子/蛋白质的指令，这些指令必须在电极化/网络的背景下运作（它们相互作用！）

这两种方法并不互斥。它们可以潜在地*结合*使用，以实现对生物系统的更大控制。例如：

• CRISPR 可用于将特定*离子通道*的基因引入细胞。
• 然后，可以使用生物电技术来*控制*这些通道的活动，微调细胞的行为。 这已经在当前的研究中得到了证明 —— 使用已知的基因/方法来实现更好的*系统级或更大的解剖学水平的变化，这种变化可能是持久的。

它需要多个领域（包括生物学、电子学、计算机模拟、哲学（朝着“智能、生物体”的概念统一））才能实现类似于 Levin 提出的概念（“生物编译器”）的系统。CRISPR 表明，基因修饰，即使具有已经显示的如此重要的能力，也需要更广泛的信息模式/背景 ——“生物电场/布局”，这已在该领域得到广泛建立和研究，因为它们的*指导作用*。

CRISPR 与解剖编译器：不同的技术

虽然 CRISPR 是强大的工具, 它现在不能做到为肢体再生, 做详细细节描述. 因为正如 Levin 小组在出版物中经常提到的那样，组织记忆/布局超越了 DNA 或蛋白质结构！

• 双头蠕虫不需要 DNA 编辑！也不需要添加蛋白质和化学物质。
• “记忆”、身体模式，甚至（通过简单的测试，习惯，如联想条件反射）持久存在，并且似乎可以使用不同于生物电机制的方法访问。

解剖编译器专注于自上而下的生物电形态控制，是一种概念上不同的技术。CRISPR 是关于改变*构建块*，而解剖编译器是关于改变*构建计划*。CRISPR 或基因编辑通常代表不同的技术/生物科学分支。一个专注于自下而上，而另一个：自上而下，在系统行为中。

结论：强大的工具，但不是灵丹妙药

毫无疑问，CRISPR 是一项具有巨大潜力的革命性技术。但重要的是要记住，它只是工具箱中的一种工具。它不是解决所有生物问题的“灵丹妙药”。对生命的全面理解不仅需要了解*基因*，还需要了解基因、蛋白质和塑造我们身体的*生物电信号*之间的复杂*相互作用*。它包括硬件和软件，Levin 博士等科学家致力于研究和阐明这些硬件和软件。