CRISPR-Cas9

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

a revolutionary gene-editing technology derived from a naturally occurring bacterial immune mechanism, comprising a guide RNA that directs the Cas9 endonuclease protein to a specific DNA sequence, where it makes a precise double-strand cut allowing targeted insertion, deletion, or correction of genetic material; discovered and developed into a practical tool by Jennifer Doudna, Emmanuelle Charpentier, and collaborators, CRISPR-Cas9 has transformed biological research, enabling experiments that previously took years to be completed in weeks, and is advancing toward clinical applications in treating genetic diseases including sickle cell disease, beta-thalassemia, and certain cancers; its affordability and ease of use relative to earlier gene-editing tools like zinc-finger nucleases has democratised genetic research globally