Recent Developments in Gene Editing Technologies: A Comprehensive Review of CRISPR applications in Biotechnology

Abstract

This review article offers a thorough summary of recent advancements related to CRISPR technology that investigates its mechanisms, principles, and potential applications in biotechnology. The paper critically discusses the transformative potential of CRISPR in relevant domains such as biomedical studies, agriculture, industry, and environmental science. Even with transformative potential, CRISPR is limited by off-target effects, requirements for PAMs and efficient delivery mechanisms. The literature reviewed indicates that although the potential for reliable therapy for treating genetic conditions and enhancing stress resilience in plants is promising, there is a lack of standardized practices for assessing off-target activity and gene editing safety. Compounding surveillance, there is relatively little knowledge of the long-term implications of CRISPR usages on different ecosystems and human health. The review calls for further research into new delivery systems to improve both the efficiency and specificity of biotechnological research and practice associated with CRISPR technologies. So, the study suggests subsequent research efforts go towards creating robust protocols for the assessment of off-target effects and enhancing delivery methods. Analyses of new CRISPR technologies like base editing and prime editing should be done to establish their strengths. Ethical implications of germline editing should also be addressed to allow for the use of CRISPR technology in a responsible manner. By integrating existing literature and laying out key areas for future study this research hopes to contribute to the ongoing debate concerning CRISPR technology and its relevance to biotechnology.