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.

CRISPR inventor calls for pause in editing heritable genes

December 1, 2015
by Robert Sanders

Jennifer DoudnaJennifer Doudna on the ethical and societal issues of editing heritable genes.

Read the article.

http://news.berkeley.edu/2015/12/01/crispr-inventor-calls-for-pause-in-editing-h…

CRISPR-Cas9 helps uncover genetics of exotic organisms

December 10, 2015
by Robert Sanders

Scanning electron microscope images of genetically modified amphipod.A new study from UC Berkeley illustrates the ease with which CRISPR-Cas9 can knock out genes in exotic animals — in this case, an amphipod or sandhopper — to learn how those genes control growth and development.

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http://news.berkeley.edu/2015/12/10/crispr-cas9-helps-uncover-genetics-of-exotic…