CRISPR: da concepção a sala de aula

Abstract

In the last decade, RNA-programmable CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing has become the basis for several innovations in biology, providing advances in our understanding of the direct development of the genome. This technique envisages sustaining applications in biomedicine, biotechnology and synthetic biology, facilitating the design or redesign of biological systems. Within the context of teaching Science and its Technologies, the lack of a bridge between researchers, teachers and society makes the communication process delicate. To contribute to the viability of scientific dissemination in molecular biology and biotechnology, this work was carried out around a pedagogical intervention in the form of a practical activity at Colégio Estadual Padre Carlos Zelesny, where CRISPR brought the initial dialogue on biotechnology, establishing a relationship around biotechnology and its innovations, and a representative practical activity was carried out, where the students worked with DNA assembly, transcription and translation. The performance of the activity was satisfactory and it was possible to notice the general involvement of the students with the concepts that were being built during the practice through their biotechnological relations; therefore CRISPR proved to be a tool of didactic potential for high school students.