Advances in Gene Editing Techniques

This review highlights advancements in gene editing techniques, including CRISPR-Cas9, base editing, prime editing, PASTE, and modified CRISPR. CRISPR enables gene insertion and substitution by creating double-stranded breaks in the genome using guide RNA. Base editing alters single base pairs, while prime editing corrects transition mutations by adding up to 50 nucleotides with a nickase. PASTE identifies specific genome sites for insertion, adding up to 50 base pairs. These techniques rely on guide RNA and reverse transcriptase to modify the genome. Despite their potential, challenges remain, such as off-target effects, editing efficiency, immunogenicity, and the need for safe delivery systems. Applications include animal breeding, disease treatments (e.g., metabolic disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases), immunity enhancement, plant breeding for better traits, and gene therapies. In therapeutics, these techniques also contribute to drug development from biological sources, showing great promise for future medical and agricultural advancements.