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Related Concept Videos

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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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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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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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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Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Genome-Wide CRISPR Screen for Unveiling Radiosensitive and Radioresistant Genes
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Genome-Wide CRISPR Screen for Unveiling Radiosensitive and Radioresistant Genes

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Avoidance of Self during CRISPR Immunization.

J L Weissman1, Arlin Stoltzfus2, Edze R Westra3

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.

Trends in Microbiology
|June 17, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Prokaryotic Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) provide adaptive immunity by distinguishing foreign DNA from self. Diverse mechanisms exist for this crucial self/non-self recognition, but no single universal method is employed.

Keywords:
autoimmunityprimingself–non-self recognition

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Prokaryotes possess Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) as a form of adaptive immunity against viruses.
  • CRISPR systems enable prokaryotes to remember past infections and adapt to new pathogenic threats.
  • A key function of CRISPR immunity is the ability to differentiate between self and non-self genetic material.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To document and hypothesize mechanisms of self versus non-self recognition in CRISPR adaptive immunity.
  • To investigate the diversity and specificity of CRISPR systems in acquiring immune memories.
  • To understand how CRISPR systems prioritize foreign DNA over endogenous sequences.

Main Methods:

  • Review and analysis of existing literature on CRISPR-mediated immunity.
  • Documentation of known and proposed molecular mechanisms for target discrimination.
  • Comparative analysis of CRISPR system variations across different prokaryotic species.

Main Results:

  • CRISPR systems exhibit significant variability in their capacity for self versus non-self discrimination.
  • Multiple mechanisms exist that bias the acquisition of new immune memories towards foreign (non-self) DNA.
  • No universal mechanism for distinguishing self from non-self has been identified across all CRISPR systems.

Conclusions:

  • The diversity of self/non-self recognition mechanisms is a hallmark of CRISPR adaptive immunity.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for comprehending prokaryotic immune responses and evolution.
  • CRISPR systems display remarkable flexibility in adapting their defense strategies based on environmental cues.