CRISPR-Cas9 helps uncover genetics of exotic organisms
Thursday, December 10, 2015 - 14:11
in Biology & Nature
A revolutionary gene-editing tool is transforming the study of standard lab animals like the fruit fly, but could have even greater impact in genetic studies of more exotic animals, like the octopus or sea anemone. Scientists used CRISRP-Cas9 to quickly and efficiently knock out six Hox genes in the amphipod, revealing one example of how segmented animals deploy different limbs on different segments, like tools in a Swiss army knife.