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The revolutionary CRISPR gene editing machine has been the subject of an incredible upgrade for editing 'tens or even hundreds of genes' at once, allowing scientists to reprogram whole gene networks at once.
Previously, in the best case, the CRISPR-Cas technique could only change a handful of genes simultaneously and could usually handle only one at a time. However, new research is opening up a world of possibilities for scientists to change cells on a much larger scale.
"Our method allows us, for the first time, to systematically change entire gene networks in one step,"Explains the author of the study, Randall Platt, of ETH Zurich in Switzerland. "With this new tool, we and other scientists can achieve what we could only dream of doing in the past.. "
The new method can reach 25 targets in genes at once, with the possibility of touching hundreds of others. This means that instead of the tedious system of editing one at a time, scientists can make more widespread changes.
The study team admits, however, that more modified genes mean a higher risk of unexpected secondary changes, such as mutations or genetic damage. "Future work to overcome these limitations will open many applications for highly multiplexed genomic engineering., "Reads the article, published in Nature Methods.
Gene editing is a relatively new technology that allows scientists to rewrite DNA by correcting "bad" genes, such as genetic disorders, or by adding new ones. It has been used to treat children predisposed to serious genetic diseases or incurable cancers, as well as HIV patients.
Crispr-Cas9, invented in 2012, is the main molecular tool in gene editing. It allows doctors to target a specific region of an organism's genetic code and effectively disable a gene.
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