Potential DNA damage from CRISPR has been ‘seriously underestimated’ study finds
Note that this study covers <i>&#x27;on-target&#x27;</i> effects.<p>As often covered in the news, CRISPR-mediated gene editing can be used to edit a DNA sequence to another, desired sequence. In these applications, it&#x27;s very important that no other mutations besides the desired mutation are introduced. Such additional mutations would be <i>&#x27;off-target&#x27;</i> mutations.<p>In a second kind of experimental approach, researchers can use CRISPR technology to make arbitrary mutations at a desired site in the genome. This approach cares less about the resulting damage; the goal is simply to destroy the existing gene.<p>The referenced article[1] seems to characterize the types of mutations that arise when people use CRISPR to ablate a gene (<i>i.e.</i>, the second approach). It would be interesting to see if the range of DNA damage is restricted when CRISPR is instead used to change the sequence of a targeted DNA segment into another, desired sequence.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nature.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;Nbt.4192" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nature.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;Nbt.4192</a>