LPLT [creativecommons license] via Wikimedia CommonsGenomic engineering is a staple of modern translational research; the ability to create alterations at the DNA level and explore their effects in various organisms has deepened our understanding of basic biologic function and of many human health disorders. About a year ago, scientists developed a new approach to genomic engineering called the CRISPR/Cas9 system (Science 337, 816–821; 2012). The system has since been used to engineer many biological model species, including yeast, zebrafish, mice and nematodes. Now, a trio of collaborators from the University of Wisconsin–Madison reports the successful application of this approach in fruit flies.
Fluent in Science