Resurrecting a 2.6 billion-year-old ancient CRISPR system
4th April 2023
A group of researchers in Spain have synthesized a CRISPR-Cas gene editing system from 2.6 billion years ago, a laboratory feat they describe as a “resurrection.”
The work, published in Nature Microbiology, represents not only a way to better understand how bacteria first evolved this powerful gene editing tool, but could perhaps also lead to better versions.
By studying ancient CRISPR sequences and recreating them in the lab, the team was able to create functional versions of the ancient Cas proteins capable of cutting DNA in the modern day.
”This research signifies an extraordinary advance in knowledge about the origin and evolution of CRISPR-Cas systems,” Francis Mojica, a University of Alicante researcher on the team, said.