The project helps you to edit your own DNA at home

No need to become a biological and genetic expert, you can still adjust your own DNA.

Introducing a set of home gene self-editing tools

The method of editing CRISPR gene is a technique that only heard and found its complexity and confusion. This is a genetic modification technique that requires a lot of high-tech biotechnology equipment and is usually only done in a laboratory. However, a newly developed DIY project will allow anyone to edit their own genes at home without having to know biology or have a doctorate. This project is named ODIN.

ODIN was started by synthetic biologist Josiah Zayner, a NASA expert working on a bacterial research program for humanity's future exploration of Mars. This is an extremely difficult job and requires a lot of time as well as knowledge, but in a bit of trouble is due to the limited operation of the economy so Josiah always has to work alone without any support. any human resource support.

Immediately, Josiah Zayner came up with the idea of ​​a tool to guide "amateur biologists" who could self-study and perform home biological experiments. Since then, these people can create a community specializing in biological research outside the framework of formal organizations - where they always seek the necessary support of people with similar interests. mind instead of "being alone" studied as Josiah himself.

In the end, he decided to register for a fundraising program on Indiegogo about designing a CRISPR genetic editing tool for everyone.

A basic set of ODIN tools.

So why choose CRISPR gene editing method? Josiah said this is a bio-synthesis technique that has many practical applications because it allows making the smallest adjustments on the huge database of DNA molecules with unprecedented accuracy. One advantage of this technique is that it can be done at a low cost, fast, easy, and even higher accuracy than previous measures.

CRISPR - short for Clustered Regularly InterSpaced Palindromic Repeats - is a popular genetic modification method using bacterial proteins to cut DNA , in which a protein called Cas9 is used by many biological and genetic experts. erase, alter, or even add DNA to basic genetic biological systems within living organisms, from yeast to humans.

Returning to the ODIN project, Josiah Zayner said the participants of the fundraising program will receive a lot of benefits. ODIN has a lot to choose from the basic set of experiments costing $ 75 to just wrap around the DNA editing of bacteria that glows in the dark until the package of $ 5,000 comes with the introduction. "Bringing the biological lab to your home" will allow you to tailor your own DNA. To reassure those who have doubts about the safety of this toolkit to human health, Josiah Zayner said "the bacteria that come with these tools are safer than the bacteria on your skin ".

Bacteria glow after DNA modification.

It was discovered in 1987, but it was not until recent years that CRISPR showed its importance. Even many scientists have considered the proof of the use of CRISPR as a revolution in biotechnology, bringing a lot of potential in applied research especially in the aspect of DNA editing of all kinds. virus to create drugs to prevent serious diseases.