In this study, genetic elements with which gene drives in the genome of fruit flies can either be switched off or completely removed are presented. These mechanisms are based on the transmission of specific guide RNAs (gRNAs, signposts for the CRISPR/Cas9 gene scissors), which determine the target region(s) in the genome and are intended here […]
Before the gene scissors CRISPR/Cas is able to recognize and change target areas of the genome of plants, it must first be introduced into their cells. Scientists have various methods of old genetic engineering to choose from: a ring-shaped piece of DNA (a so called plasmid) containing foreign DNA can be introduced into the cells […]
The aim of the study is to introduce polledness (hornlessness) into dairy cows with the help of the CRISPR/Cas gene scissors. Polledness occurs naturally in cattle breeds such as Angus, which are used in beef cattle breeding, but much less often in dairy cows. In the study, the scientists used CRISPR/Cas12a, a variant of the […]
This study deals with unintended on-target changes in the genome of human cell lines after a DNA double-strand break (DSB) was generated at the target region using the gene scissors CRISPR/Cas. It is important to consider the structure and function of chromosomes to properly understand the effects found here: Humans have two complete sets of […]
The authors of this study succeeded in designing a specific PCR method to detect a Cibus rapeseed variety that carries a herbicide tolerance in its genome. An important prerequisite for the application of the method must be fulfilled: the changes in the respective gene location of the examined varieties must be known beforehand. First, the […]
On-target effects are unintended changes in the genome of genome-edited target organisms that can occur when applying the gene scissors CRISPR/Cas. On-target effects include major rearrangements of the genome, such as restructuring large parts of the DNA, large insertions of DNA sequences or the deletion of DNA sections. So far it has not been fully […]
In the present study, maize plants are generated containing the Cas9 gene scissors and guide RNAs for target regions in two different genes in wheat. The target genes BRI1 and SD1 regulate the growth of wheat. The scientists use 5 transgenic maize plants for each target region in the wheat (targets determined by the guide […]
Major unintended restructuring of the genome at or in the vicinity of the target sequence are known as so-called „on-target effects“. Major restructuring in the genome can be, for example, large deletions, that is, very large pieces of DNA are deleted or large DNA sequences are unintentionally inserted at the target sequence. In previous studies, […]
So far it has not yet been possible to clearly demonstrate whether a new change in the genome of plants has arisen through an application of genome editing or whether a naturally occurring mutation is present. This study by Biswas et al. 2020 describes a method to detect both CRISPR/Cas-induced and naturally occurring mutations. Changes […]
A trait that is often changed in rice so resulting rice plants have a smaller size and a higher yield is caused by changes in the so-called semi-dwarf 1 (SD1) gene. This gene is modified in various rice elite lines in the present study with CRISPR/Cas9 and examined in detail in subsequent generations for unintended […]
