The CRISPR Project: Who We Are, What We’re Doing, and Why We Need You

Written by Hailey Tapia, Spring 2022 Editorial Intern at Berkeley Pharma Tech.

Based in Silicon Valley, Berkeley Pharma Tech is a biotechnology incubator for today’s young scientists. We are making strides toward medical revolutions through a variety of avenues, including biomedical research, cryptocurrency engineering, and software development. Our goal for the CRISPR project is to create a cleaner, more vibrant environment for the next generation, with net zero — a state of balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and their removal from the atmosphere — being a focal point. And it all starts with the capture of one thing: carbon dioxide, or CO2.

CO2 is essential to our world’s habitability; it traps heat from the sun, preventing Earth from being frozen solid. But at certain concentrations, this greenhouse gas can have disastrous consequences. As atmospheric carbon dioxide climbs, even more heat is kept close to Earth’s surface, resulting in dangerously high global temperatures. And if CO2 levels continue to rise, our environment faces the risk of overheating.

From scientists to politicians, business magnates to activists, key figures are making efforts to combat the climate crisis. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates leads a fund that plans to invest in clean technologies for carbon capture, the process of literally sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere by trapping and separating it from other gases. Berkeley Pharma Tech, too, sees the urgency in this matter, which is why we work to fight climate change.

This is where CRISPR technology comes into play. It is a naturally occurring defense system in bacteria that can be used for gene editing, opening up a world of possibilities. One of these is the optimization of redwood trees to capture carbon. Trees breathe in carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and store carbon through a process called carbon sequestration. Redwood trees are particularly ideal for several reasons: they absorb up to 981 U.S. tons per acre, more CO2 per acre than any other forest type on the planet — as supported by the findings cited by Save the Redwoods League and the Yale School of the Environment — they can live to more than 2,000 years and grow to over 360 feet in height, and they are inherently capable of capturing carbon.

That being said, there is room for improvement. Berkeley Pharma Tech aims to genetically enhance redwood trees to make them fast-growing and drought-resistant, perfecting them as allies for tackling climate issues.

We plan to engage in the sale of carbon credits, whereby the individual holder can offset his/her carbon footprint. As of now, companies that are high-carbon emitters must buy carbon credits to comply with regulations. But rather than serving big companies, we intend to offer carbon credits to individuals all over the world. How? The global crypto platform. The idea is for the individuals to participate in the project so that by the end of one’s life, they will have attained net zero and will leave behind a better environment than the one with which they started. Individuals can play a personal role in decarbonization and offset their carbon footprint by contributing to the CRISPR project.

Above all else, an investment in carbon capture is an investment in your health. Carbon dioxide can aggravate diseases such as asthma, allergies, and COPD. We here at Berkeley Pharma Tech want to remove these pollutants and health hazards so that people can reap both collective and individual benefits. Carbon capture via CRISPR technology will not only reduce carbon emissions but also improve the well-being of many. In brief, purer air means a healthier, happier life.

There are two ways to contribute to Berkeley Pharma Tech’s project: purchase our CRISPR token or add liquidity. Creating a wallet is necessary for this process. You can use either Trust Wallet or the Binance Chain Wallet. The CRISPR token is currently only available on PancakeSwap and ApeSwap, and since it is newly launched, you will need the token contract address (0xaa3d6308d963f218a6df85f0a94faeacc4ed5ded) to find it. For steps on connecting your wallet and buying CRISPR, visit our CRISPR Token page, specifically the “How Do I Connect My Trust Wallet to PancakeSwap on My iPhone?” section. Funds collected will go directly into research, the conservation and expansion of redwood groves, and the creation of carbon credits in the future.

Our team at Berkeley Pharma Tech takes pride in fostering biotechnological innovation to better the environment. Our approach is the employment of CRISPR technology in redwood trees to maximize their CO2 absorption, and with our carbon credits and CRISPR token, achieving net-zero is within reach. Taking action is as critical as ever, and your contribution, no matter how big or small, can help move our global climate and population closer to safety for years to come.

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