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.

Freakonomics Radio interviews Jennifer Doudna: Evolution, Accelerated

June 14, 2017

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?

UC vows to protect groundbreaking CRISPR invention despite court decision

September 11, 2018

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.

Genome-editing revolution: My whirlwind year with CRISPR

December 22, 2015

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.

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

October 30, 2018

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.

Smallest life forms have smallest working CRISPR system

October 18, 2018

Archaea bacteria with CRISPR systems.

An ancient group of microbes that contains some of the smallest life forms on Earth also has the smallest CRISPR gene-editing machinery discovered to date.

Five distinguished individuals to be honored with highest American Cancer Society Award

October 17, 2018

American Cancer Society LogoThe American Cancer Society will bestow its highest honor – the Medal of Honor – to five individuals on Oct. 18 in Washington DC. The Medal of Honor is awarded to distinguished individuals who have made valuable contributions in the fight against cancer. The 2018 recipients include the Honorable Joseph R. Biden Jr., for Cancer Control; Emmanuelle Charpentier, PhD, for Basic Research; Jennifer Doudna, PhD, for Basic Research; Charis Eng, MD, PhD, for Clinical Research; and Michael J. Thun MD, MS, for Cancer Control Science.

Doudna joins Biden during Bay Area stop on cancer ‘listening tour’

February 29, 2016

Jennifer DoudnaWhen Vice President Joe Biden dropped by UC San Francisco on Saturday for a wide-ranging discussion of the current state of cancer research, UC Berkeley’s Jennifer Doudna was on hand to emphasize the need to fund basic research as well as clinical research.