CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA

CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA is a good introduction to gene editing and the ways gene editing could be used. Young adult author Yolanda Ridge and scientific illustrator Alex Boersma have created a book that gives a clear overview of the intricacies of genetics and gene editing.

CRISPR has a logical layout, starting with an introduction to genetics, including the genome, DNA, RNA, and genes and how they all work. The reader is walked through the concepts in a mixture of text and illustrations.

Chapter 2 discusses what gene editing and CRISPR really are and how they work, starting with what CRISPR stands for (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) and what that means. The rest of the chapter covers the CRISPR process and how it would work in humans or other species to edit genes.

Once the reader has the basics of genetics, gene editing and CRISPR, the book moves on to different potential applications of the technology. Each chapter covers a different area and focuses on one specific example, such as sickle cell anemia in the chapter on single-gene mutations and potatoes in the chapter on food. Every chapter includes boxes of additional information about the chapter topic or CRISPR in general, ranging from additional information on how deadly mosquitoes are, to an overview of who “owns” CRISPR. Each chapter also has “STOP”, “YIELD” and “GO” information boxes which look at the positives and negatives of using CRISPR to edit genes in different species. These boxes provide a lot of good information and allow the book to present a potentially controversial topic in a balanced manner. Each chapter closes with a “Cutting Questions” section, which asks the reader to reflect on the different issues under discussion and how CRISPR and gene editing should or should not be used.

CRISPR presents a lot of information, and a lot of complex information, but keeps everything interesting and readable. Alex Boersma’s excellent illustrations are a big part of this, helping to visually present and demonstrate complex concepts in an easy to understand fashion. The writing style also keeps the information at a good level for older readers, with careful explanations of the terminology and concepts. The layout presents different ideas only after the basics have been explained, and each chapter builds on the chapters before.

Genetic modification and gene editing can be controversial topics, and Yolanda Ridge does a good job of presenting the information, concepts and ideas without taking sides or leading readers to a particular viewpoint or conclusion.

Informative, well-presented and illustrated, CRISPR is an excellent book to learn about genetics, gene editing, and the uses, possibilities and risks of this technology.