a16z Podcast a16z Podcast: Damage-free Genome Editing -- Next in CRISPR
Jun 26, 2019
Explore the cutting-edge developments in CRISPR technology that are changing the landscape of genome editing. Discover how recent research enables scarless gene integration, paving the way for improved therapies and diagnostics. Delve into the evolution of genetic editing from early techniques to the sophisticated CRISPR-Cas9 system. Plus, learn how these advancements are revolutionizing disease diagnostics, making genetic testing more precise and accessible. The future of genome engineering is bright!
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Scarless Editing
- New CRISPR techniques use transposons to insert genes without cutting DNA, enabling "scarless" editing.
- This offers more precise and less risky gene modification, like "plastic surgery" for the genome.
Gene Therapy Evolution
- Early gene therapies involved random gene integration, posing risks like seen in Jesse Gelsinger's trial.
- CRISPR-Cas9 offered more targeted editing by creating double-stranded DNA breaks, but still carried risks.
CRISPR's Advantages
- Zinc finger nucleases offered targeted editing but were expensive and slow to develop.
- TALENs were an improvement, but CRISPR revolutionized gene editing with its programmable targeting.