Expanding the CRISPR Toolbox: Unveiling a Wealth of New Genome Editing Systems

Researchers have used an algorithm to discover new and rare types of CRISPR systems, which could potentially be adapted for genome editing. By analyzing genetic sequences in public databases, the algorithm identified around 130,000 genes associated with CRISPR, including 188 that had never been seen before. The experiments revealed various strategies that CRISPR systems use to attack viruses, such as unwinding DNA and cutting it in ways that allow genes to be inserted or deleted. The researchers also discovered an entirely unknown CRISPR system that targets RNA. While it is too early to determine their usefulness for genetic engineering, these new findings provide valuable insights into the diversity and potential applications of CRISPR systems.