The impact of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) in healthcare : a narrative review

Abstract

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) are deoxyribonucleic acid segments that can be used in gene editing to provide a defence mechanism against viral DNA in prokaryotes. Compared to other genome editing techniques, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is simpler, more accessible, and highly efficient for precise DNA modifications. This review examines CRISPR’s applications, particularly its potential in treating hereditary and chronic diseases. CRISPR technology offers advancement in treating diseases such as sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia, haemophilia, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. CRISPR enhances detection methods for infectious diseases like tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B. By integrating CRISPR technology into healthcare, significant advancements can be made in the treatment and prevention of genetic diseases