© РИА Томск. Таисия Воронцова
TOMSK, Oct 8 – RIA Tomsk. The CRISPR/Cas9 genome
editing system allowing to targeted change genetic information opens up
prospects for various scientific research, treatment of hereditary, cancer
diseases, Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) professor Konstantin Brazovsky
commented on the announcement of the Nobel Prize laureates in Сhemistry of
the creators of this method.
According to the press service of the university, the
Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 for such a method of genetic engineering as
"genetic scissors" (CRISPR/Cas9) was received by Frenchwoman
Emmanuelle Charpentier and American Jennifer Doudna. It is based on an element
of the bacterial defense system that scientists have adapted to alter the DNA
of plants, animals, and even humans. This technology allows to make
"amendments" in just a few days.
© предоставил Сергей Кетов
"The creation of a CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing
system can be considered, without exaggeration, one of the key achievements of
biomedical science in general and genetic engineering in particular ...
Directed changes in genetic information open up unlimited prospects for
creating plants and animals with desired properties, treating hereditary
diseases, suppressing growth of tumor cells and many other applications", –
Brazovsky is quoted.
According to the scientist, today this technology is
already used to treat genetic diseases, to combat antibiotic-resistant
microorganisms, clinical trials of drugs are carried out to combat certain
types of cancer with its use.
"In my opinion, the main merit of the founders of
the CRISPR/Cas9 method lies in the creation of a reliable tool, equally
suitable for both advanced scientific research and everyday use in practical
applications", – the professor is quoted in the message.