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Related Concept Videos

CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing01:28

CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing

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The CRISPR-Cas system serves as a bacterial defense mechanism against invading genetic elements such as viruses and plasmids, forming the foundation for its adaptation as a powerful genome-editing tool. Originally discovered in prokaryotes, this system has been repurposed to revolutionize genetic engineering across a wide range of organisms, including plants, animals, and humans. The core component, Cas9, is an endonuclease derived from Streptococcus pyogenes, capable of introducing...
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CRISPR01:59

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Genome editing technologies allow scientists to modify an organism’s DNA via the addition, removal, or rearrangement of genetic material at specific genomic locations. These types of techniques could potentially be used to cure genetic disorders such as hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. One popular and widely used DNA-editing research tool that could lead to safe and effective cures for genetic disorders is the CRISPR-Cas9 system. CRISPR-Cas9 stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced...
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The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR01:23

The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR

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CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats is a adaptive immune system found in bacteria and archaea that protects against viral infections. This system enables prokaryotic cells to identify, remember, and neutralize foreign genetic elements, primarily bacteriophages, by storing fragments of the invader’s DNA as a genetic memory.The CRISPR immune response begins during an initial infection. Cas (CRISPR-associated) proteins play a central role in this...
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CRISPR and crRNAs02:53

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Bacteria and archaea are susceptible to viral infections just like eukaryotes; therefore, they have developed a unique adaptive immune system to protect themselves. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) are present in more than 45% of known bacteria and 90% of known archaea.
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
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Homologous Recombination02:31

Homologous Recombination

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The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...
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Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

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Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
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Updated: Feb 20, 2026

A Standard Methodology to Examine On-site Mutagenicity As a Function of Point Mutation Repair Catalyzed by CRISPR/Cas9 and SsODN in Human Cells
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Anti-CRISPR: discovery, mechanism and function.

April Pawluk1, Alan R Davidson2, Karen L Maxwell1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada.

Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|October 25, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteria and archaea use CRISPR-Cas immunity, but phages evade it using anti-CRISPR proteins. This discovery has significant evolutionary and biotechnological implications for gene editing technologies.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • CRISPR-Cas systems provide adaptive immunity in bacteria and archaea.
  • These immune systems have minimal long-term impact on limiting horizontal gene transfer.
  • Phages and mobile genetic elements likely possess mechanisms to overcome CRISPR-Cas immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss recent discoveries on how phages inactivate CRISPR-Cas systems.
  • To outline the evolutionary implications of anti-CRISPR protein activity.
  • To explore the biotechnological potential of anti-CRISPR proteins.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on CRISPR-Cas systems and phage-host interactions.
  • Analysis of evolutionary pressures driving the development of anti-CRISPR mechanisms.
  • Discussion of current and potential biotechnological applications.

Main Results:

  • Phages utilize anti-CRISPR proteins to actively inhibit CRISPR-Cas immune systems.
  • The evolution of anti-CRISPR proteins is a widespread phenomenon driven by phage-host co-evolution.
  • Anti-CRISPR proteins represent a powerful tool for biotechnological applications, including gene editing.

Conclusions:

  • The arms race between phages and CRISPR-Cas systems is a key driver of microbial evolution.
  • Anti-CRISPR proteins offer novel strategies for precise control of CRISPR-Cas activity in biotechnology.
  • Understanding anti-CRISPR mechanisms is crucial for both fundamental research and applied science.