Scientists discovered a naturally existing DNA editing tool – Bridge Recombinase Mechanism (BRM).
- BRM utilizes mobile genetic elements or “jumping genes”, which cut and paste themselves into genomes, performing on-the-go DNA manipulation and are present in all forms of life.
- Jumping Genes are small DNA segments with a recombinase enzyme along with extra DNA segments at the ends of the genes that binds and manipulates DNA.
- Gene editing is alteration of genetic material of a living organism by inserting, replacing, or deleting a DNA sequence, with the aim of improving some characteristic of a plant/ animal or correcting a genetic disorder.
About BRM
- Extra DNA at the ends of jumping genes gets joined together and converts the DNA double helix structure into a single-stranded RNA molecule.
- This bridge RNA molecule can bind to two DNA segments (donor and target), allowing for flexible DNA modifications.
- Donor and target loop can be programmed independently, offering great flexibility in inserting or recombining sequences to DNA.
Other Gene Editing Technologies:
| Crispar- Cas9 | It is a customizable tool that let scientists cut and insert
small pieces of DNA at precise areas along a DNA strand. |
| TALE Nucleases | Nucleases that cleave
unique genomic sequences in living cells can be used for targeted gene editing. |
| Zinc-Finger Nucleases | Targeted to cleave a
chosen genomic sequence and provokes cellular repair processes that in turn mediate efficient modification of the targeted location. |
| RNA interference (RNAi): | Targets RNA molecules
to block or activate gene expression. |