The newest innovation researches are working on is a novel CRISPR tests which detects the coronavirus in up to five minutes. As mentioned in the Science Magazine article, outrageously expensive lab equipment is not needed for this diagnostic, making it readily available for use in doctor’s offices, schools, and offices.
“CRISPR tests work by identifying a sequence of RNA—about 20 RNA bases long—that is unique to SARS-CoV-2. They do so by creating a “guide” RNA that is complementary to the target RNA sequence and, thus, will bind to it in solution.”
This stems from lead researcher Jennifer Doudna, who won a share of this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her co-discovery of CRISPR. She and her colleagues conducted hundreds of experiments and tests to find multiple guides of RNAs which will in turn increase the diagnostic’s sensitivity.
