CRISPR.Cas9 and the Future of Genome Editing

Abstract

Genome editing, or gene editing, is a method by which DNA of an organism can be changed. This can be done in humans, animals, plants, and bacteria. Gene editing can be used to change phenotypic traits such as eye color and genotypic traits to help fight cancer and diseases. Genome editing allows for genetic material and information to be added, deleted, replaced, or rearranged at different locations to change the structure or function of a particular gene. There are several different methods of genome editing including ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPR. While all of these methods are effective, the CRISPR/Cas9 technology has proven to be the most efficient and cost effective method of mass gene edits.