CRISPR/Cas9: The Versatile DNA Manipulator

When we hear bacteria, our first reaction is usually to grab the hand sanitizer.  So it is surprising to learn that a protein found in some bacteria has become one of the most widely used ways to manipulate DNA.  This protein, CRISPR, is used by bacteria to cut up viral DNA before it can be used to make more viruses.  Scientists have manipulated the protein to have even more functions, as summarized in Schaeffer’s and Nakata’s article.