CRISPR Bacteria Cut DNA With Atomic Precision

[00:00:00]Gene editing requires massive labs and cutting-edge technology, but bacteria evolved molecular scissors over billions of years.

[00:00:08]They use CRISPR as an immune system, storing viral DNA as genetic memory.

[00:00:15]When viruses attack again, bacteria deploy Cas9 enzymes that slice DNA at targeted, remembered locations.

[00:00:23]Cas9 can scan 3 billion DNA letters >> [music] >> and cut intended target sequences with high precision.

[00:00:31]Off-target effects? They occur rarely, but vary depending on the context and detection method used.

[00:00:38]We're adapting a bacterial immune system to treat human diseases.

[00:00:43]This naturally evolved system is now among our most precise gene editing tools available.