Ep. 42 - Counteracting CRISPR ft. Ada McVean

<p>Our guest this week, <strong>Ada McVean</strong>, is pursuing a Master's of <strong>Chemistry </strong>at <strong>McGill University</strong> in the Damha Lab (alongside our good friend James Thorpe from Ep. 30!). Her current research is focused on creating small modified nucleic acid-based inhibitors (or SNuBs) of Cas9 using click chemistry, to interrupt the normal functioning of the CRISPR complex.</p> <p><strong>Questions Answered<br> </strong>Why might we want to prevent a CRISPR complex from editing our genes?<br> How do SNuBs interrupt a ribunucleic threesome?<br> If gene editing is a play, who are the characters and what sorts of hijinx do they get themselves into?<br> Can Turtles breathe out of their butts?<br> How do lava lamps produce their magically entrancing goopy light show?<br> Will wearing a hat speed up the balding process?<br> and many, many, <em>many </em>more!<br> <br> <strong>Topics &amp; Concepts<br> </strong>Biology vs Chemistry<br> CRISPR<br> SNuBs<br> Oligonucleotides (Oligos)<br> Fluorination<br> The Periodic Table<br> Electronegativity &amp; Reactivity<br> CRISPR<br> Off-Target Effects<br> A CRISPR Antidote<br> Tracker &amp; Guide RNAs<br> The PAM &amp; NGGs</p> <p><strong>Rapid-Fire Fun-Facts</strong><br> Cloacal Respiration?<br> Ejaculation &amp; The Female Prostate?<br> Lava Lamp Luminescence?<br> Hats, Baldness &amp; Follicular Miniaturization Syndrome?<br> The Truth About Leftovers?<br> <br> <strong>Fundraiser Info<br> </strong>From March 8th - April 8th 2021, $0.40 will be donated to the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST: https://www.scwist.ca) every time an Abstract episode with a female guest gets a listen. $4,00 will be donated to the same cause for every new review of the podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/abstract-the-future-of-science/id1510997356">Apple Podcasts</a>!</p> <p><strong>Links to Ada's Articles<br> </strong>Cloacal Respiration<br> <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know/turtles-breathe-out-their-