It is a new technology that could allow us to cure genetic diseases. Or grow more tomatoes. Or engineer pigs with organs that could be transplanted into humans.
We’re talking about CRISPR, the scientific tool discovered in 2012 that gave scientists the ability to edit the genes of organisms, including ours. Studies using CRISPR — described by some as among the most important discoveries in the history of biology — have exploded in recent years, with researchers trying it out on a range of plants and animals, as well as human embryos.
“Overall, I feel very excited about this technology,” CRISPR’s co-creator, Jennifer Doudna, told The Salt Lake Tribune last week.