Q 01/05

Which household tool did the 2020 Nobel committee liken CRISPR-Cas9 to when it announced the gene-editing prize?

A) Tweezers

B) Scissors

C) Stapler

D) Eraser

Answer · why

B) Scissors

Scissors is the image the Nobel committee used: it called CRISPR-Cas9 genetic scissors that snip DNA at a chosen spot. The cell then repairs the break...

Q 02/05

Danisco scientists proved in 2007 that CRISPR shields bacteria from viruses while studying cultures for which food?

A) Sauerkraut

B) Sourdough

C) Soy sauce

D) Yogurt

Answer · why

D) Yogurt

Yogurt production is often hit by viruses that kill the starter bacteria, so Danisco studied the survivors. They had copied pieces of the viruses' DNA...

Q 03/05

Twin girls born in China in 2018 had the CCR5 gene edited as embryos using CRISPR to resist which virus?

A) HIV

B) Zika

C) Ebola

D) Polio

Answer · why

A) HIV

HIV uses the CCR5 protein as its doorway into cells, so the experiment tried to remove it. The work drew condemnation around the world, and the babies...

Q 04/05

Casgevy, the first approved CRISPR-based medicine, treats which inherited condition by editing blood stem cells?

A) Cystic fibrosis

B) Huntington's disease

C) Sickle cell disease

D) Muscular dystrophy

Answer · why

C) Sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease bends red blood cells into rigid curves that block small vessels. The edited stem cells go back into the patient and make more fet...

Q 05/05

In which Dwayne Johnson film does weaponised CRISPR research mutate a gorilla, a wolf and a crocodile into monsters?

A) Skyscraper

B) Rampage

C) San Andreas

D) Jungle Cruise

Answer · why

B) Rampage

Rampage is loosely based on a 1986 arcade game about monsters smashing cities. On screen the gorilla George, the wolf Ralph and the crocodile Lizzie a...