News
CRISPRs are AMAZINg
November 26, 2014/
CRISPRs (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) are DNA loci containing short repetitions of base sequences. Each repetition is followed by short segments of "spacer DNA" from previous exposures to a virus.[2]
CRISPRs are found in approximately 40% of sequenced bacteria genomes and 90% of sequenced archaea.[3][4]
CRISPRs are often associated with cas genes that code for proteins related to CRISPRs. The CRISPR/Cas system is a prokaryotic immune system that confers resistance to foreign genetic elements such as plasmids and phages[5][6] and provides a form of acquired immunity. CRISPR spacers recognize and cut these exogenous genetic elements in a manner analogous to RNAi in eukaryotic organisms.[2]



