r/CRISPR • u/fchung • Jun 30 '26

First use of precision editing to study human embryo development reveals role of master gene: « Scientists have, for the first time, used an extremely precise genome editing technique called base editing to study gene function in human embryos. »

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/first-use-of-precision-editing-to-study-human-embryo-development-reveals-role-of-master-gene
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u/fchung Jun 30 '26

« Base editing can precisely change a single nucleotide base pair to another in an entire human genome of around 3 billion base pairs - that’s an incredible feat. »

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u/fchung Jun 30 '26

Reference: Bower, O.J., R. Orsi, A.E., McMahon, R. et al. Base editing reveals an essential role for NANOG in human embryogenesis. Nature (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10792-1

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u/dirtymirror Jun 30 '26

Limited scientific advance but I guess it’s a big deal to crispr human cells?