One of the inventors of the new method of editing genes believes we could use it to tackle some of the biggest issues facing humanity.
In a new interview with MIT Technology Review, the woman who received a 2020 Nobel Prize for her discovery said that it can be used to enhance the ability of the soil's organisms.
The futuristic idea is potentially high impact, but also farther out.
She told MIT Tech that there has been a lot of focus on clinical uses of the tool.
The ability to suck up carbon dioxide has been around for at least a couple of years. The Harnessing Plants Initiative of The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is trying to amplify plants' root systems and production of suberin, their protective shell.
Similar processes could be used to allow living organisms to store more carbon dioxide.
In addition to allowing plants to store more carbon dioxide, it could also allow them to adapt to climate change.
Rice is a major source of calories for humans around the globe, and scientists at the University of California Berkeley are trying to modify the genetics of the crop to be more resistant to droughts. The research is affiliated with Innovative Genomics Institute. The research is still in its infancy.
In January, a University of California at Berkeley scientist told Time that this is all very blue-sky at the moment.
While scientists are excited most of all for its clinical applications, its potentially ground-breaking effects on the global food chain and our efforts to tackle a growing climate crisis shouldn't be underestimated.
The scientist who co-created CRISPR isn't ruling out engineered babies someday.
The scientist who genetically modified human babies was released from prison.
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