What natural process does CRISPR exploit for gene editing?

CRISPR harnesses a natural process that is part of the bacterial immune response. In essence, bacteria use CRISPR sequences to store segments of DNA from viruses that have previously attacked them. This allows bacteria to recognize and defend themselves against future infections by these same viruses. When a bacterium encounters a familiar virus, it can use CRISPR-associated proteins (such as Cas9) to target and cut the viral DNA, preventing the virus from replicating.

This mechanism of targeted DNA cutting is what makes CRISPR such a powerful tool for gene editing. Scientists have adapted this natural defense system to not only defend bacteria but also to edit genes in a wide range of organisms, including plants and animals. The system's precision and efficiency in altering genetic sequences make it a groundbreaking technology in biotechnology and molecular biology.

The other processes listed, such as DNA duplication, natural selection, and protein synthesis, are fundamental biological concepts but are not directly related to the CRISPR technology and its application in gene editing.