How the genome editing works

1

An RNA ‘guide’ molecule can be programmed to match any unique DNA sequence

 

2

The RNA molecule is attached to a protein called CAS9. Its job is to find the target sequence of DNA

Cas9

RNA

molecule

DNA target sequence

DNA sequence

3

The RNA aligns with the target DNA sequence and the CAS9 attaches and cuts both strands of the DNA double helix, disabling the gene

Cas9

RNA aligns

with DNA

sequence

1

An RNA ‘guide’ molecule can be programmed to match any unique DNA sequence

Cas9

RNA

molecule

2

The RNA molecule is attached to a protein called CAS9. Its job is to find the target sequence of DNA

DNA target sequence

DNA sequence

3

The RNA aligns with the target DNA sequence and the CAS9 attaches and cuts both strands of the DNA double helix, disabling the gene

Cas9

RNA

molecule

RNA aligns with DNA sequence