A decade ago, Ying Zhang was at the forefront of a medical breakthrough with CRISPR–Cas9 gene editing at CRISPR Therapeutics in Switzerland. Initially, she faced challenges in replacing faulty genes, but advancements have since made genome editing more accessible. Now at Wuhan University, Zhang and her peers are expanding the toolkit for gene editing, exploring methods beyond CRISPR–Cas9. These techniques, while promising, have their own complexities and are not universally applicable. CRISPR–Cas9 is effective for small DNA changes, but its reliance on a cell’s repair mechanisms can lead to unpredictable results. Base editing offers precision but is limited by the need for customization to individual DNA, making it impractical for diseases with many genetic variants. The evolving landscape of gene editing holds potential for treating diseases but requires careful selection of the right tools for specific tasks.
QUESTION: How might the advancements in gene-editing technologies impact the future of medical treatments for genetic diseases?
Bigger than CRISPR? A guide to the latest genome editors
