CRISPR

CRISPR Cas9 explained. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) are segments of prokaryotic DNA containing short repetitions of base sequences. is an RNA-guided gene-editing platform that makes use of a bacterially derived protein (Cas9) and a synthetic guide RNA to introduce a double strand break at a specific location within the genome.

Cas9 is an enzyme that snips DNA, and CRISPR is a collection of DNA sequences that tells Cas9 exactly where to snip.

Breakthrough of the Year: CRISPR makes the cut

December 17, 2015
by John Travis
Science singles out CRISPR gene-editing as the Breakthrough of the Year.
https://www.science.org/content/article/and-science-s-2015-breakthrough-year

At UC Berkeley, Dem House members gather evidence to fight cuts to world-leading research

February 24, 2025
Joe Garofoli, Senior Political Writer SF Chronicle
Days before they return to Washington to cast votes on the GOP-crafted budget, two California House members toured the Innovative Genomics Institute research lab at UC Berkeley Friday morning, in order to get a look at the real-life impacts of Republicans' goal to whack $4 billion from the National Health Institute.

Jennifer Doudna awarded 2020 Wolf Prize in Medicine

January 13, 2020
By Robert Sanders | UC Berkeley Media Relations
Jennifer Doudna, UC Berkeley professor of molecular and cell biology and of chemistry, has won the 2020 Wolf Prize in Medicine, a prestigious international prize awarded in Israel for unique contributions to humanity.

Crispr, not just for gene editing

October 30, 2020
Jennifer Newton | Chemistry World

Illustration of Crispr-Cas activity

Crispr–Cas is part of an ancient bacterial immune system that detects and chops up invading viruses’ DNA. Source: © Science Photo Library

Thanks to the 2020 chemistry Nobel prize, Crispr–Cas systems will...

Historic videos

For more college videos visit our Featured Video page.

During campus visit, U.S. representatives vow to fight freeze on federal research funding

February 24, 2025
By Robert Sanders | UC Berkeley media relations
East Bay Rep. Lateefah Simon and Los Angeles Rep. Ted Lieu visited the Innovative Genomics Institute for a tour and briefing.

Jennifer Doudna awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry

October 7, 2020
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Portrait of Jennifer Doudna

Jennifer Doudna, 2020 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. photo: Keegan Houser

For immediate release

The College of Chemistry is delighted to announce that biochemist Jennifer Doudna was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry today, sharing it with colleague Emmanuelle Charpentier...

Doudna receives National Medal of Technology and Innovation

January 7, 2025
College of Chemistry
President Biden awarded Jennifer Doudna the National Medal of Technology and Innovation as a pioneer of CRISPR gene editing.

New CRISPR Center brings hope for rare and deadly genetic diseases

January 10, 2024
Jess Berthold | UCSF
Jennifer Doudna and colleagues CRISPR collaboration combines expertise from three UC schools to scale treatment for diseases that industry has largely passed by – until now.

The future of biochemistry

January 12, 2018
College of Chemistry News
The ACS January 2018 Special Biochemistry Issue has included College of Chemistry professors Ming Hammond, Evan Miller, and David Savage