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.

Adding a 'switch' to Cas9 to make CRISPR gene editing safer

March 22, 2019
by Angus Liu | Fierce Biotech

University of California, Berkeley, scientists developed new Cas9 variants that could make CRISPR safer. (kirstypargeter/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images)

One big challenge facing the development of CRISPR gene editing for use in humans is the fear that the Cas9 "scissors" used in the technology could cause unintended off-target effects. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have come up with a potential solution: a “switch” mechanism that could keep the Cas9 enzyme turned off until it reaches its target site.

In a recent study co-authored by CRIPSR pioneer Jennifer Doudna and published in the journal Cell, the UC Berkeley team described how they used an engineering technique called circular permutation to create Cas9 variants, "ProCas9s," that allow CRISPR to be turned on only in the targeted cells.

Meet scientist Markita Landry

February 13, 2019
From the Innovative Genomics Institute website

Markita LandryIn this engaging article, meet Markita Landry, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, who runs the Landry Lab at UC Berkeley. Her lab works on developing nanomaterials to assist in the delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 systems in plants.

Scientists find new and smaller CRISPR gene editor: CasX

February 5, 2019
By Robert Sanders | UC Berkeley media relations

new gene-editing protein CasX announcedAccording to a newly published study in Nature, CasX is a potent and efficient gene editor in both bacteria and human cells. Its design is similar to Cas9 and its well-studied cousin, Cas12, but is different enough that it appears to have evolved in bacteria independently of the other Cas proteins. It can cut double-stranded DNA like Cas9, can bind to DNA to regulate genes, and it can be targeted to specific DNA sequences like other Cas proteins.

Freakonomics Radio interviews Jennifer Doudna: Evolution, Accelerated

June 14, 2017
Freakonomics Radio

Freakanomics RadioA breakthrough in genetic technology has given humans more power than ever to change nature. It could help eliminate hunger and disease; it could also lead to the sort of dystopia we used to only read about in sci-fi novels. So what happens next?

http://freakonomics.com/podcast/evolution-accelerated/

Genome-editing revolution: My whirlwind year with CRISPR

December 22, 2015
by Jennifer Doudna

Jennifer DoudnaJennifer Doudna, a pioneer of the revolutionary genome-editing technology, reflects on how 2015 became the most intense year of her career — and what she's learned.

Read the article.

http://www.nature.com/news/genome-editing-revolution-my-whirlwind-year-with-cris…

UC vows to protect groundbreaking CRISPR invention despite court decision

September 11, 2018
By Public Affairs, UC Berkeley

DNA photo - Getty Images

A statement about the U.S. Court of Appeals decision on the University of California's patent interference claim before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board b by Charles F. Robinson, Office of General Counsel, UC Office of the President.

Mammoth Biosciences Raises $23M in Series A Round

July 31, 2018
GenomeWeb

Jennifer Doudna. Photo by Washington Post, Getty Images.Mammoth Biosciences, the biotech startup cofounded by CRISPR researcher Jennifer Doudna, announced today that it has raised $23 million in a Series A round of financing.

https://www.genomeweb.com/business-news/mammoth-biosciences-raises-23m-series-ro…

CRISPR co-inventor responds to claim of first genetically edited babies

November 26, 2018
by Public Affairs, UC Berkeley

Jennifer DoudnaDr. Jennifer Doudna has issued a statement in response to claims that the world's first genetically edited babies have been born in China. Doudna is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Li Ka Shing Chancellor's Chair in Biomedical and Health...

https://news.berkeley.edu/2018/11/26/doudna-responds-to-claim-of-first-crispr-ed…

Patent awarded for DNA-targeting complex at heart of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing

October 30, 2018
By Robert Sanders | UC Berkeley media relations

CRISPR-CAS9 patent awarded to UC Berkeley and Jennifer DoudnaThe University of California announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted U.S. Patent Number 10,113,167, covering unique RNA guides that, when combined with the Cas9 protein, are effective at homing in on and editing genes. These RNA/protein combinations act like precision-targeted gene-editing scissors.

https://news.berkeley.edu/2018/10/30/patent-awarded-for-dna-targeting-complex-at…

CRISPR opens door to new type of medicine: ‘genome surgery’

October 25, 2018
By Robert Sanders, Berkeley Media relations

Jennifer DoudnaIGI researchers, including Bruce Conklin of UCSF and Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley, discuss the promise of CRIRSP-Cas9 'genome surgery.'

http://news.berkeley.edu/story_jump/crispr-opens-door-to-new-type-of-medicine-ge…