Page 38 - myeong_shin_ebook_2019

Genetic Scissors

Kim Ga-yeon

Genetic scissors, known as one of the
techniques that will change the world, is a
technology that is rapidly advancing. It is a
technique that tries to remove strands of
DNA and insert other strands of DNA using
certain enzymes1). If we use this technique, we
could get not only protein sources that could
provide nutrients needed for humans but
crops that wouldn't be damaged by disease
or insects. It is also expected to remedy
human genetic diseases that can't be treated
with modern medicine. Genetic scissors has
developed in steps: the first generation
ZFN2) (Zinc Finger Nucleases), the second-
generation TALEN (Transcription Activator-
Like Effector Nucleases), and the third and
current generation CRISPR(Clustered Regularly
Interspaced Short Palindromic number3)
Repeats).

ZFN is the combination of “zinc fingers” and about four nuclei. ZFN originated from a finger-
shaped protein structure that was found during research on African clawed frogs in 1985. Srinivasan
Chandrasegaran made it by weaving six zinc finger proteins into a particular DNA sequence and
combining it with Fokl, which germs use to cut protein. This has been used as a gene correction
technique since early in the 2000s and is now used to treat genetic diseases such as AIDS, hemophilia,
and Alzheimer's.

_________________________________
1) enzyme 효소
2) zinc 아연
3) palindromic number 앞뒤가 대칭인 수 ex)101, 9009, ...

38 MYEONG-SHIN GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL