By tweaking an enzyme that cuts DNA, synthetic biologists say that they can make genome editing even more specific—an essential improvement if the technique is to be deployed in the clinic to treat genetic diseases.
The enzyme, called Cas9, is a key component of a molecular-editing system that enables researchers to alter particular DNA sequences in the genome. That technology, called CRISPR-Cas9, is so quick, cheap and easy to use that it is already changing how genetic research is done and could one day provide a way to correct genetic mutations that cause disease in humans. On December 1, researchers from the United States, the United Kingdom and China are convening in Washington DC to discuss the ethics and applications of gene-editing in humans.
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