Front

CRISPR-Cas9

Back

A revolutionary gene-editing technology that allows for precise, directed changes to genomic DNA.

Front

Bacteriophage

Back

A type of virus that infects bacteria.

Front

Cas9 (endonuclease)

Back

An enzyme that acts as molecular scissors to cut DNA at a specific location.

Front

Purpose of CRISPR-Cas9 in bacteria

Back

Originally a defense mechanism against bacteriophages, allowing bacteria to cut and remember viral DNA.

Front

Spacer DNA

Back

Sequences of DNA that are interspersed between CRISPR repeats and are derived from previous viral invaders.

Front

Protospacer

Back

The sequence in the viral genome that corresponds to the spacer DNA in the CRISPR array.

Front

PAM (protospacer adjacent motif)

Back

A short DNA sequence following the DNA region targeted for cleavage by the CRISPR system.

Front

Guide RNA (gRNA)

Back

RNA molecule that guides the Cas9 enzyme to the correct part of the genome to cut.

Front

Hairpin loop

Back

A structure formed by base pairing within a single strand of RNA, often found in gRNA.

Front

CRISPR-Cas9 complex

Back

The combination of the Cas9 enzyme and the guide RNA that together can edit DNA.