CRISPR TECHNOLOGIES BEYOND GENE EDITING: EMERGING DIAGNOSTIC PLATFORMS AND REGULATORY APPLICATIONS

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technologies have revolutionized molecular biology through their powerful genomeediting capabilities. However, beyond gene editing, CRISPR systems have rapidly evolved into versatile platforms for molecular diagnostics and regulatory biotechnology applications. This review explores emerging CRISPR-based diagnostic technologies, including SHERLOCK, DETECTR, and CRISPR-Chip systems, which enable rapid, highly sensitive, and specific detection of nucleic acids without the need for complex laboratory infrastructure. These technologies have demonstrated significant potential in infectious disease detection, cancer biomarker identification, and point-of-care diagnostics. In parallel, CRISPR has become central to regulatory frameworks addressing bio safety, ethical governance, and biotechnology policy development. The ability to precisely manipulate genetic material has prompted international regulatory bodies to reconsider classification systems for genetically modified organisms, gene-edited crops, and therapeutic applications. This review critically examines the transition of CRISPR from a gene-editing tool to a multifunctional biotechnology platform, discusses regulatory challenges, bio safety considerations, and global policy trends, and evaluates future prospects for integration into healthcare and agricultural systems. By synthesizing current advancements and regulatory perspectives, this paper highlights the expanding role of CRISPR technologies in shaping next-generation biotechnology.