What Is the CRISPR System and How It Is Used?

CRISPR is a revolutionary gene editing technology that has enabled scientists worldwide to explore the cell's genetic blueprint in an unprecedented easy way. In this chapter, we will briefly present the history behind the development of this innovative tool, how it emerged from a natural bacterial mechanism for antiviral defense, its key components (Cas9 endonuclease and single guide RNA), mode of action (DNA cleavage and repair via NHEJ or HDR), and versatility (acting on single- or double-stranded DNA or RNA) for diverse purposes beyond gene editing such as stochastic marking, digital encoding, high-fidelity SNP genotyping, programmed chromosome fission/fusion, gene mapping, nucleic acid detection, regulation of gene expression, DNA/RNA labeling or tracking, and more.

Relationship between the hsa miR 150-5p and FTO gene expression in white subcutaneous adipose tissue with overweight/obesity, lipid profile and glycemia.

The overweight population is growing in the world, and the search for obesity-associated mechanisms is important for a better understanding of this disease. Few studies with the FTO gene and miRs show how they associate to obesity and how they can impact this disease. The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between the FTO gene and the hsa-miR-150-5p expression with overweight/obesity, lipid profile, and fast blood glucose. Men and women (18 years older or above), with body mass index ≥ 18.5 kg/m2, were enrolled in the present study and the FTO gene and hsa-miR-150-5p expression, biochemical parameters of blood and anthropometric measurements were analyzed. The results highlight that the FTO gene expression is associated to obesity (p 0.029), LDL-C (p 0.02) and fasting blood glucose (p 0.02), but not with triglycerides (p 0.69), total cholesterol (p 0.21), and HDL-C (p 0.24). The hsa-miR-150-5p is not associated to obesity (p 0.84), triglycerides (p 0.57), total cholesterol (p 0.51), HDL-C (p 0.75), LDL-C (p 0.32), and fasting blood glucose (p 0.42). The FTO gene expression is related to obesity, LDL-C and blood fasting glucose, representing a good molecular marker for obesity.