Read closely. Think about how the author wrote it.
In 2012, scientists described a new tool for editing DNA that would transform biology. Called CRISPR-Cas9, it was adapted from a defense system that bacteria use against viruses.
The system works like molecular scissors guided by a GPS. A short strand of RNA guides the Cas9 protein to a precise location in the genome, where it cuts the DNA. The cell then repairs the cut, and scientists can use that moment to disable a gene or insert a new sequence.
CRISPR is faster, cheaper and more precise than earlier gene-editing methods. Researchers are using it to develop treatments for inherited diseases such as sickle cell disease, and in 2023 regulators in the U.K. and the U.S. approved the first CRISPR-based therapy for that condition.
The technology also raises ethical questions, especially about editing human embryos, where changes could be passed to future generations. Many scientists have called for strict limits on such uses.
Vocabulary: genome — determine its meaning from context: ________________
Worksheets › Grade 10 English › Craft & Structure › Craft & Structure
Free Grade 10 English worksheet (Common Core RI.9-10.4): analyze text structure, word meaning and author’s purpose in "CRISPR: Editing the Code of Life". Skill: Word choice, structure and point of view. Level: Grade 10 — also suits Year 11 (UK).
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Word choice, structure and point of view.
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