September 10, 2020
From extinction to de-extinction: CRISPR/Cas9 and biodiversity
CRISPR/Cas9 technology allows selectively editing (i.e. deleting or inserting) gene sequences in any organism to change its genetic profile. In humans, this technology carries the promise of eradicating certain genetic diseases. Recently, however, it has been used to tinker with biodiversity: bringing some extinct animals back to life and alternatively, making some species go extinct. However, it is not fully clear yet how to control this technology (e.g. not eradicate the whole species but only control its population), how to prevent the accidental release of this technology and to prevent doomsday terrorist scenarios.