✂️ New CRISPR technique makes gene editing much safer

Scientists have created a new version of CRISPR gene editing that makes 60 times fewer errors than before.The new method works just as well as before but creates much less damage to DNA.The technique can change genes with extreme precision – up to 543 correct changes for every error.What was the problem before

CRISPR gene editing is a way to change DNA to repair defective genes. It can treat inherited diseases by fixing errors in our genes.

Earlier CRISPR methods had a big problem. When scientists tried to change one gene, they often got unwanted damage in other parts of the DNA. These errors were unpredictable and could be dangerous.

The researchers understood that the errors occurred when the tool couldn’t choose the right DNA piece to change. It made wrong choices and created damage instead of making the right change.

How they solved the problem

The researchers changed the protein that cuts DNA. They made it less stable in a controlled way. This made the tool break down competing DNA pieces and make the right choice more often.

By testing many different changes, they found two that worked best together. This version made almost no errors at all.

To make the method even better, they added other changes that made the tool faster. The final version made 12.7 times fewer errors than before.

The best version

The most developed version is called vPE. It combines all improvements and shows:

8.6 times fewer errors in regular gene editing8.2 times better ratio between correct changes and errorsSame high efficiency as previous versionsTesting in different cells

The researchers tested the method in many different types of cells. In all cases, there were much fewer errors.

In one test, they were supposed to change a green protein to blue. The old method succeeded in 9.3 percent of cells but created errors in 2.8 percent. The new method succeeded in 15 percent of cells with almost no errors.

The new method works for all kinds of gene changes. This includes small changes, additions, and deletions. It also works for large changes where the error rate dropped from 3.5 percent to 0.20 percent.

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