Silicon Republic September 13, 2021
While investigating the ancestry of Cas proteins, researchers found a potential trove of programmable gene-editing proteins.
CRISPR gene editing is a field with many promises that has sometimes struggled to deliver. Now, a new study published in the journal Science has discovered programmable gene-editing proteins outside of CRISPR systems.
Scientists at MIT’s McGovern Institute and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard found a new editing enzyme among a family of proteins called IscB. These proteins are thought to be the ancestors of the Cas9, which is often the enzyme of choice used in CRISPR.
By using Cas9 alongside a guiding RNA, it is possible to cut a DNA sequence using CRISPR techniques. The use of RNA to guide Cas9...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor