CRISPR diversifies: Cut, paste, on, off, and now- evolve!
Wednesday, August 1, 2018 - 13:30
in Biology & Nature
Scientists at the Innovative Genomics Institute have concocted a transformative new way to harness the power of evolution. Today in Nature, researchers at UC Berkeley describe yet another creative application for CRISPR: a platform to spur evolution of specific genes inside cells. Their inventive new system, "EvolvR," lets scientists shake up the DNA letters in their gene of choice until they find the variation that's just right. The technology opens up countless possibilities, like engineering yeast that efficiently turn waste into biofuels, or developing new human therapeutics.