variants
or less commonly Crispr
1
: a segment of genetic material found in the genomes of prokaryotes (such as some bacteria and archaea) that consists of repeated short sequences of nucleotides interspersed at regular intervals between unique sequences of nucleotides derived from the DNA of pathogens (such as viruses) which had previously infected the bacteria and that functions to protect the bacteria against future infection by the same pathogens
Note: The CRISPR segment encodes, via transcription, short RNA sequences that pair with complementary sequences of viral DNA. The pairing is used to guide an enzyme to cleave the viral DNA and prevent further infection.
CRISPR, he learned, was a strange cluster of DNA sequences that could recognize invading viruses, deploy a special enzyme to chop them into pieces, and use the viral shards that remained to form a rudimentary immune system.—
Michael Specter
Michael Specter2
: a gene editing technique in which CRISPR and the RNA segments and enzymes it produces are used to identify and modify specific DNA sequences in the genome of other organisms
Just a few years after its invention, CRISPR gene editing is already having a major impact on biomedical research. It makes it easy to "turn off" genes one at a time, to see what they do. It can introduce specific mutations, to find out why they make cells cancerous or predispose people to diseases. And it can be used to tinker with the genes of plants and animals …—Michael Le Page
Michael Le PageUsing CRISPR, they have now disabled four rice genes, suggesting that the technique could be used to engineer this crucial food crop.—Elizabeth Pennisi
Elizabeth PennisiScientists hope Crispr might also be used for genomic surgery, as it were, to correct errant genes that cause disease.—Andrew Pollack
Andrew PollackNote: The technique is sometimes called CRISPR-Cas9 , which includes the name of the enzyme that cleaves DNA.
… an incredibly fast-paced field in which laboratories around the world have used CRISPR-Cas9 to edit genomes of a wide range of cell types and organisms.—Jennifer A. Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier
Jennifer A. Doudna and Emmanuelle CharpentierExamples of CRISPR in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While small molecules are currently at the forefront of efforts to modulate the activity of lncRNAs, in the future, other tools such as CRISPR and RNA interference have also been described as potential therapeutic strategies.
—Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
The first mention of CRISPR systems in a scientific article was in 1987.
—The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024
Many laureates went on to form startup companies to further expand and commercialize their groundbreaking work – for instance, CRISPR gene-editing technology and quantum dots– but the research, from start to end, wasn’t done in the commercial sphere.
—Marc Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024
In January 2024, Danaher teamed up with the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) to launch the Danaher-IGI Beacon for CRISPR Cures.
—Demaris Mills, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
By sequencing the fish’s genome and using CRISPR gene editing techniques, researchers were also able to identify the gene that’s responsible for their legs, tbx3a.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024
The team has also worked with the Broad to develop diagnostic tests for Lassa using the genome editor CRISPR.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 9 Aug. 2024
But now that the gene responsible for the prickles has been identified, scientists can remove the prickles utilizing genome editing techniques such as CRISPR, a method scientists use for DNA modification of living organisms.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 1 Aug. 2024
In a study greenlit by the FDA, patients with a rare liver disorder have also begun receiving the first doses of a CRISPR therapy that would work in their own bodies rather than in a lab.
—Peter Marks, TIME, 2 May 2024
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Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
The first mention of CRISPR systems in a scientific article was in 1987.
—The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024
Many laureates went on to form startup companies to further expand and commercialize their groundbreaking work – for instance, CRISPR gene-editing technology and quantum dots– but the research, from start to end, wasn’t done in the commercial sphere.
—Marc Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024
In January 2024, Danaher teamed up with the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) to launch the Danaher-IGI Beacon for CRISPR Cures.
—Demaris Mills, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
By sequencing the fish’s genome and using CRISPR gene editing techniques, researchers were also able to identify the gene that’s responsible for their legs, tbx3a.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024
The team has also worked with the Broad to develop diagnostic tests for Lassa using the genome editor CRISPR.
—Byjon Cohen, science.org, 9 Aug. 2024
But now that the gene responsible for the prickles has been identified, scientists can remove the prickles utilizing genome editing techniques such as CRISPR, a method scientists use for DNA modification of living organisms.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 1 Aug. 2024
In a study greenlit by the FDA, patients with a rare liver disorder have also begun receiving the first doses of a CRISPR therapy that would work in their own bodies rather than in a lab.
—Peter Marks, TIME, 2 May 2024
Articles Related to CRISPR
Dictionary Entries Near CRISPR
Cite this Entry
“CRISPR.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/CRISPR. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
CRISPR
noun
variants
also Crispr
1
: a segment of genetic material found in the genomes of prokaryotes that consists of repeated short sequences of nucleotides interspersed at regular intervals between unique sequences of nucleotides derived from the DNA of viruses (such as bacteriophages) which had previously infected the prokaryote and that functions to protect the prokaryote against future infection by the same viruses
Note: The CRISPR segment encodes, via transcription, short RNA sequences that pair with complementary sequences of viral DNA. The pairing is used to guide an enzyme to cleave the viral DNA and prevent further infection.
One of the most dramatic examples of short-term genome evolution can be seen in the CRISPR … loci of bacteria and archaea. CRISPRs serve as a defense against invading phages and plasmids, in a manner akin to adaptive immunity.—David A. Relman, The New England Journal of Medicine
David A. Relman, The New England Journal of Medicine2
: a gene editing technique in which CRISPR and the RNA segments and enzymes it produces are used to identify and modify specific DNA sequences in the genome of other organisms
Gene editing refers to several novel ways to alter the DNA inside living cells. The most popular method, CRISPR, has been revolutionizing scientific research … and is likely to power a new generation of gene treatments for serious diseases.—Antonio Regalado, MIT Technology Review
Antonio Regalado, MIT Technology ReviewNote: This technique is sometimes called CRISPR-Cas9, which includes the name of the enzyme that cleaves DNA.
CRISPR-Cas9 works by "silencing" the part of the … gene that signals protein production.—Hanae Armitage, Science
Hanae Armitage, ScienceLove words? Need even more definitions?
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