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Advances in CRISPR-Cas9 Technology: Shaping the Future of Photosynthetic Microorganisms for Biofuel Production

Samreen Arshad, Muhammad Qadir, Nazim Hussain, Qurban Ali , Shiming Han, Daoud Ali

Abstract

Fossil fuels face environmental issues due to inefficiency and depletion leading to sparked interest in renewable energy sources such as biofuel generation from photosynthetic organisms. A wide variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, known as microalgae, have the potential to be economical and ecologically sustainable in the manufacture of biofuels such as bio-hydrogen, biodiesel, bio-oils, and bio-syngas. By using contemporary bioengineering techniques, the innate potential of algae to produce biomass of superior quality may be enhanced. In algal biotechnology, directed genome modification via RNA-guided endonucleases is a new approach. CRISPR-Cas systems have recently been frequently employed to modify the genetic makeup of several aquatic and freshwater microalgae. The majority of research has used the Cas9-driven type II system, one of two classes and six unique kinds of CRISPR systems, to specifically knock desired genes in algae, knock them out and down, or both. Microalgae, by using CRISPR technology, leads to higher biomass production and lipid content. This review has highlighted the attempts made thus far to target microalgae genome modification, focused on the prospects for developing the CRISPR platform for large-scale genome modification of microalgae, and recognized possibilities about the challenges related to the development and distribution of CRISPR–Cas9 components.

FP24255  Accepted 15 January 2025

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