CRISPR

CRISPR is a gene-editing technology that allows scientists to precisely alter DNA sequences in living organisms using a guide RNA and a specialized endonuclease enzyme.

• It offers targeted therapeutic solutions for genetic disorders such as sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia, which present significant public health challenges in India.
• It enables the development of climate-resilient and high-yielding crop varieties without inserting foreign DNA, supporting national food security goals.
• It highlights critical governance challenges regarding bioethics, biosecurity, off-target genetic edits, and intellectual property regulation.

UPSC evaluates CRISPR under General Studies Paper III, focusing on its operational mechanism and applications in healthcare and agriculture compared to conventional genetic modification. Questions often test the regulatory landscape, particularly India's guidelines for safety assessment of genome-edited plants and exemptions granted to specific categories. Candidates must also analyze the socio-economic and ethical dimensions, including equitable access to expensive gene therapies and biosecurity risks.

• Fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology GS3
• Science and Technology GS3

• 3D Printing
• 5G
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Blockchain
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Machine Learning (ML)
• Quantum Computing
• Robotics