CRISPR is a new biotech phenomenon, which has the potential to grant professionals the ability to alter or edit DNA structures. The process has huge implications, from eliminating certain diseases and world hunger, to amending physical appearance of creating renewable energy sources.
The developments have the biomedicine world buzzing. As far back as 2015, publications such as Wired Magazine and New Scientist, have been excited about the prospects for CRISPR and it’s uses.
As ever for investors though, the future is unclear. There are no clear winners in the race to implement the technology , and indeed, some companies will specialise in one area of development, not necessarily the concept as a whole. So formulating an investment plan to take advantage of any ground breaking developments is not easy.
What Is CRISPR?
CRISPR (Pronounced “Crisper”) is the shortened form of CRISPR-Cas9, “clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats” in full. They are specialised stretches of DNA that allow segments of DNA to be cut.
How To Invest In CRISPR
The problem of trying to invest in CRISPR biotech, is the range of companies involved and knowing who can get to market first, or find the most profitable use – or even more likely, the first firm to overcome the ethical issues of altering DNA.
eToro however, have come up with an alternative to trying to find the next big thing in DNA editing – back the field.
eToro have announced the CRISPR Copy Fund. This fund comprises of a range of companies, all invested in, or researching CRISPR and it’s related technologies. This grants the trader exposure to a range of firms, all of which have the potential to revolutionise biotech.
eToro CEO and Co-Founder had this to say:
“People are saying CRISPR is an extremely disruptive technology for DNA editing. We took the companies that wrote a lot of patents on this technology and have created an investment portfolio. This is something different…this is biotech. We have created a very interesting CopyFund.”
The fund does not charge any management fee – but does have a minimum investment level of $5000, which may put some people off taking a low-risk position on the tech overcoming the ethical issues and taking off. As the fund develops however, that minimal investment may reduce.