The global burden of cancer and the limitations of conventional therapies highlight the potential of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) in reshaping cancer treatment paradigms. In this review, we have investigated the mechanism of CRISPR, an adaptive immune system in bacteria that enables highly precise gene editing at the molecular level. This versatile tool demonstrates its efficacy in human cancer therapy through gene knockout, metabolic disruption, base editing, screening, and immunotherapy enhancement without affecting normal bodily domains. Despite its superiority over other nucleases like zinc-finger nucleases and transcription activator-like effector nucleases, hurdles such as off-target effects, inefficient delivery of the system to target cells, the emergence of escapers, and the ethical debate surrounding genome editing are discussed. In this article, we have reviewed the promising approaches of CRISPR-Cas9 in cancer treatment while exploring the underlying mechanism, advantages, and associated challenges.

A considerable fraction of population in the world suffers from rare diseases. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and its related Cas proteins offer a modern form of curative gene therapy for treating the rare diseases. Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, hereditary angioedema, duchenne muscular dystrophy and Rett syndrome are a few examples of such rare diseases. CRISPR/Cas9, for example, has been used in the treatment of β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (Frangoul et al., 2021; Pavani et al., 2021) [1,2]. Neurological diseases such as Huntington\'s have also been focused in some studies involving CRISPR/Cas (Yang et al., 2017; Yan et al., 2023) [3,4]. Delivery of these biologicals via vector and non vector mediated methods depends on the type of target cells, characteristics of expression, time duration of expression, size of foreign genetic material etc. For instance, retroviruses find their applicability in case of ex vivo delivery in somatic cells due to their ability to integrate in the host genome. These have been successfully used in gene therapy involving X-SCID patients although, incidence of inappropriate activation has been reported. On the other hand, ex vivo gene therapy for β-thalassemia involved use of BB305 lentiviral vector for high level expression of CRISPR biological in HSCs. The efficacy and safety of these biologicals will decide their future application as efficient genome editing tools as they go forward in further stages of human clinical trials. This review focuses on CRISPR/Cas based therapies which are at various stages of clinical trials for treatment of rare diseases and the constraints and ethical issues associated with them.

Among plant-derived secondary metabolites are benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) that play a vital role in medicine. The most conspicuous BIAs frequently found in opium poppy are morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine, sanguinarine, and noscapine. BIAs have provided abundant clinically useful drugs used in the treatment of various diseases and ailments With an increasing demand for these herbal remedies, genetic improvement of poppy plants appears to be essential to live up to the expectations of the pharmaceutical industry. With the advent of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated9 (Cas9), the field of metabolic engineering has undergone a paradigm shift in its approach due to its appealing attributes, such as the transgene-free editing capability, precision, selectivity, robustness, and versatility. The potentiality of the CRISPR system for manipulating metabolic pathways in opium poppy was demonstrated, but further investigations regarding the use of CRISPR in BIA pathway engineering should be undertaken to develop opium poppy into a bioreactor synthesizing BIAs at the industrial-scale levels. In this regard, the recruitment of RNA-guided genome editing for knocking out miRNAs, flower responsible genes, genes involved in competitive pathways, and base editing are described. The approaches presented here have never been suggested or applied in opium poppy so far.

Genetic studies in mushrooms, driven by innovations such as CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing and RNA interference, transform our understanding of these enigmatic fungi and their multifaceted roles in agriculture, medicine, and conservation. This comprehensive review explores the rationale and significance of genetic research in mushrooms, delving into the ethical, regulatory, and ecological dimensions of this field. CRISPR-Cas9 emerges as a game-changing technology, enabling precise genome editing, targeted gene knockouts, and pathway manipulation. RNA interference complements these efforts by downregulating genes for improved crop yield and enhanced pest and disease resistance. Genetic studies also contribute to the conservation of rare species and developing more robust mushroom strains, fostering sustainable cultivation practices. Moreover, they unlock the potential for discovering novel medicinal compounds, offering new horizons in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. As emerging technologies and ethical considerations shape the future of mushroom research, these studies promise to revolutionize our relationship with these fungi, paving the way for a more sustainable and innovative world.

Genome editing is a technology to make specific changes in the DNA of a cell or an organism. It has significantly altered the landscape of life sciences, facilitating the establishment of exceedingly customized genetic modifications. Among various genome editing technologies, the CRISPR/Cas9 system, a specific endonuclease induces a double stranded DNA break and enabling modifications to the genome, has surfaced as a formidable and adaptable instrument. Its significance cannot be overstated, as it not only allows for the manipulation of genomes in model organisms but also holds great potential for revolutionary advances in medicine, particularly in treating genetic diseases. This review paper explores the remarkable journey of CRISPR/Cas9, its natural function, mechanisms, and transformative impact on genome editing and finally the use of artificial intelligence and other intelligent manufacturing tools used. The introduction provides the background on genome editing, emphasizing the emergence and significance of CRISPR/Cas9. Subsequent sections comprehensively elucidate its natural function, disease modeling, agriculture, and biotechnology, address therapeutic applications, and ongoing clinical trials while also discussing prospects and ethical implications. We summarized the key findings, indicating that CRISPR/Cas9 has empowered the creation of disease-specific animal models. This provides invaluable insights into pathogenic mechanisms and opens new avenues for drug discovery, reaffirming the transformative impact of CRISPR/Cas9 on genome editing. Finally we discussed the importance of continued research and collaboration for comprehensive utilization of the inherent capabilities of this molecular precision tool in shaping forthcoming advancements.

CONCLUSIONS: The review discusses growth and drought-response mechanisms in minor millets under three themes: drought escape, drought avoidance and drought tolerance. Drought is one of the most prominent abiotic stresses impacting plant growth, performance, and productivity. In the context of climate change, the prevalence and severity of drought is expected to increase in many agricultural regions worldwide. Millets (coarse grains) are a group of small-seeded grasses cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions throughout the world and are an important source of food and feed for humans and livestock. Although minor millets, i.e., foxtail millet, finger millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet and little millet are generally hardier and more drought-resistant than cereals and major millets (sorghum and pearl millet), understanding their responses, processes and strategies in response to drought is more limited. Here, we review drought resistance strategies in minor millets under three themes: drought escape (e.g., short crop cycle, short vegetative period, developmental plasticity and remobilization of assimilates), drought avoidance (e.g., root traits for better water absorption and leaf traits to control water loss), and drought tolerance (e.g., osmotic adjustment, maintenance of photosynthetic ability and antioxidant potential). Data from \'omics\' studies are summarized to provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms important in drought tolerance. In addition, the final section highlights knowledge gaps and challenges to improving minor millets. This review is intended to enhance major cereals and millet per se in light of climate-related increases in aridity.

Advancements in New Plant Breeding Techniques have emerged as promising tools for enhancing crop productivity, quality, and resilience in the face of global challenges, such as climate change and food security. However, the successful implementation of these techniques relies also on public acceptance of this innovation. Understanding what shapes public perception and acceptance of New Plant Breeding Techniques is crucial for effective science communication, policymaking, and the sustainable adoption of these innovations. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize existing research on the public perception of New Plant Breeding Techniques applied to food crops and explore the psychosocial determinants that influence acceptance. Twenty papers published between 2015 and 2023 were included on various New Plant Breeding Techniques and their reception by the general public. Determinants affecting the acceptance of food crops derived from New Plant Breeding Techniques were categorized into six areas: sociodemographic factors, perceived benefits and risks, attitudes toward science, communication strategies, personal values, and product characteristics.

The CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system is a versatile technology for modifying gene, playing a crucial role in the study of functional genes and genetic breeding of plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the application of this technology in gene research and genetic breeding of edible fungi. The review covers various aspects, including the delivery and expression strategies of Cas9 and sgRNA, genetic transformation methods, mutant screening, and repair strategies for target sites following DNA double-strand breaks. Additionally, the review summarizes the main challenges and optimization strategies associated with the application of this technology in edible fungi. Lastly, the future application potential of this technology in edible fungi research is discussed, drawing from the authors\' personal research background.

Cancer is one of the foremost causes of mortality. The human genome remains stable over time. However, human activities and environmental factors have the power to influence the prevalence of certain types of mutations. This goes to the excessive progress of xenobiotics and industrial development that is expanding the territory for cancers to develop. The mechanisms involved in immune responses against cancer are widely studied. Genome editing has changed the genome-based immunotherapy process in the human body and has opened a new era for cancer treatment. In this review, recent cancer immunotherapies and the use of genome engineering technology are largely focused on.

CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a revolutionary tool that enables precise and efficient modifications of the genetic material. This review provides a comprehensive overview of CRISPR-Cas9 technology and its applications in genome editing. We begin by describing the fundamental principles of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, explaining how the system utilizes a single guide RNA (sgRNA) to direct the Cas9 nuclease to specific DNA sequences in the genome, resulting in targeted double-stranded breaks. In this review, we provide in-depth explorations of CRISPR-Cas9 technology and its applications in agriculture, medicine, environmental sciences, fisheries, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, and biotechnology. We also highlight its potential, ongoing research, and the ethical considerations and controversies surrounding its use. This review might contribute to the understanding of CRISPR-Cas9 technology and its implications in various fields, paving the way for future developments and responsible applications of this transformative technology.