A gene editing tool termed as Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs), has the potential to introduce genetic engineering for humans. Scientist Jacob Corn is researching to find a way to put an end to genetic diseases through the help of gene technology. But such a research could lead to many other significant findings that would have broader applications.

Professor Corn is scientific director of the Innovative Genomics Institute and a faculty member at the University of California at Berkeley. His research is directed towards development and application of next-generation genome editing technologies to develop treatment against genetic disease. There is a possibility that researchers may encounter more than what they desire at present. They may discover more through researches and find some unexpected breakthroughs.

CRISPRs came into limelight when scientists first noticed that many bacteria hold little bits of viral DNA (CRISPRs) within their own genomes, in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After further research, scientists found that these bits of DNA form part of an immune system that allows bacteria to fight off viruses.

Through this powerful tool, scientist can develop proteins into easily programmable scissors that can recognize and cut other DNA. These specialized proteins form part of the bacterial immune system and use these bits of viral DNA to recognize and cut the genomes invading viruses. With the use of CRISPR, scientists are able to alter genomic DNA and understand function of each element of the genome.

"We and everyone else are really excited of the prospect that you can make [genomic] manipulations in cells, you see all sorts of applications outside the cell, diagnostics being one of them," said Andy May, Caribou CSO.