CRISPR

American  

[kris-per] / ˈkrɪs pər /

Sometimes Crispr

noun

1. Biochemistry. a unique cluster of short, repeated DNA sequences found in bacterial genomes and capable of fighting viruses.

   CRISPR enables bacteria to integrate foreign DNA into their genome.

2. Genetics. the technology of targeting a DNA-detecting molecule to a specific genetic sequence for the purpose of editing a gene’s base pairs.

   The approach called CRISPR should speed up the process by allowing researchers to study the entire genome at once.

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Etymology

Origin of CRISPR

First recorded in 2000–05; acronym from C(lustered) R(egularly) I(nterspaced) S(hort) P(alindromic) R(epeats)

Example Sentences

Using the gene-editing tool CRISPR, plant biologists focused on goldenberry, a small fruit related to tomatoes.

From Science Daily

"By using CRISPR, you open up paths to new and more resilient food options," said Blaine Fitzgerald, the greenhouse technician in CSHL's Zachary Lippman lab.

From Science Daily

CRISPR, short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, is the foundation of modern gene-editing technology.

From Science Daily

"We are excited about the future of epigenetic editing as our study shows that it allows us to boost gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence. Therapies based on this technology are likely to have a reduced risk of unintended negative effects compared to first or second generation CRISPR," she says.

From Science Daily

They used CRISPR/Cas9 to introduce the exact same mutation into a healthy stem cell line.

From Science Daily