Chapter 1
The bacterial origin story
Chapter 2
How the genetic scissors work
Chapter 3
Editing life to cure disease
Chapter 4
Rewriting the natural world
YOUR GOAL
Master of How CRISPR edits life
Ch 2 · How the genetic scissors work
diego CRISPR Genetic Scissors
Our guide RNA finds the exact matching line, Then Cas9 snips the DNA to redesign.
diego Two pioneering scientists combined guide RNA and Cas9 to turn a bacterial defense system into a universal editing tool.
diego Cas9 is a specialized protein that acts as the physical scissors to slice open the target DNA.
Fun Fact
Incredible GPS precision: The guide RNA can find a single sequence of 20 letters out of 3 billion in human DNA.
Glossary
cas9 (noun)
A bacterial enzyme that uses a guide RNA molecule to locate and cleave specific DNA sequences. Initially found in bacteria, researchers adapted this protein in 2012 to edit plant and animal genomes.
A bacterial enzyme that uses a guide RNA molecule to locate and cleave specific DNA sequences. Initially found in bacteria, researchers adapted this protein in 2012 to edit plant and animal genomes.
Quiz
In what year were Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their CRISPR work?
Quiz
How many base pairs (genetic letters) long is the typical targeting region of a custom-designed guide RNA?
Quiz
Which repair pathway allows scientists to insert a brand-new genetic sequence by providing a custom DNA template?
Quiz
In which scientific journal did Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier publish their landmark 2012 CRISPR paper?
Quiz
What is the name of the sloppy, default cellular repair pathway that often disables a gene after a CRISPR cut?