CRISPR- Cas9 Technology: Mechanism and Its Application in The Field of Entomology

Abstract

The field of life science research has undergone a revolution thanks to the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) and CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) system, which provides a multitude of opportunities for modifying, identifying, visualising, and annotating particular DNA or RNA sequences in diverse organisms. In this technique, foreign DNA pieces, known as spacers, are inserted into CRISPR cassettes. These spacers are then transcribed into CRISPR arrays and processed to produce guide RNA (gRNA). The Cas proteins that the CRISPR arrays encode serve as the enzymatic machinery required to obtain new spacers that specifically target invasive genetic elements. Several Cas proteins, such as Cas9, Cas12, Cas13, and Cas14, have been used to create novel tools for genome engineering due to their programmable sequence specificity. The ability to manipulate and edit nucleic acid sequences in living cells from a wide variety of organisms has been made possible by these Cas variants, which have greatly advanced genetic research and the CRISPR/Cas tool. The CRISPR Cas-9 technology has applications in many areas of entomology, including the genetics of honeybees and plants that produce insecticidal compounds. CRISPR/Cas9 technology has transformed entomology by providing precise tools for gene editing and genetic manipulation in insects. This has enabled advancements in fundamental research, disease vector control, and pest management, with the potential to reduce the environmental and economic impact of insect pests in agriculture and public health.