I remember when I was extremely anxious and frightened to even lay a hand on a bacterial tube because I had never tried a serious experiment like this before. Before starting this experiment, I was not fully looking forward for this experiment because I morally objected to the idea of genetically modifying any organism. I believed that it was violating the rights of the genetically modified organism, and that this was contradicting nature’s intentions.

However, my disproving view of CRISPR and genetic modification did open up as I tried this experiment. Despite my failures during this experiment, I did realize that CRISPR isn’t such a disastrous thing that we should never use. I did notice its benefits. How it could be handled correctly to benefit and enhance the lives of those with impaired functions or for a smarter intention, like GMO-ed crops.

I am really proud of myself for being able to courageously reach out and try something new that I never had thought about in my mind. I am proud that despite my failures, I was able to notice the optimistic points of this experiment. And lastly, I am really proud of myself for not being afraid of failure.

(Though, there is really big lesson I need to learn and adapt myself to: Please be punctilious when reading the directions and recheck your actions everytime!

I think the unfortunate results I received(ex. the molds) were mostly caused by my careless behavior. Just please pay more attention to details next time!)

For those interested in trying out the same experiment, I really recommend MEMORIZING these three important steps while conducting the CRISPR experiment:

1. Read the directions, not once, but as many times until you have literally memorized the user manual word-by-word. Caution and attentiveness is KEY when conducting an experiment.
2. Don’t give up on yourself just because you have made a big mistake. Try to mentally retrace the steps you took, and calmly redirect yourself back to the correct method.
3. Be confident in yourself, and try to look at the bigger picture with a more optimistic mindset! Try to be continuously inquisitive of the results you received, and challenge yourself to another step by asking why, what, when, who, where, and how these results may have been affected or caused.

This was a really fun experiment! I would recommend this experiment to other beginners like me who are just simply curious and passionate for immunology experiments!

And lastly, never forget to have fun 😀

-Joanna Kim, August 12th, 2020, 1:48 AM KST