gene editing
noun
variants:
or genome editing
Definition of gene editing
: the use of biotechnological techniques to make changes to specific DNA sequences in the genome of a living organism
Fundamental research into the ways by which bacteria defend themselves against viruses has recently led to the development of powerful new techniques that make it possible to perform gene editing—that is, precisely altering genetic sequences—in living cells, including those of humans, at much higher accuracy and efficiency than ever before possible.— David Baltimore et al. The era of straightforward genome editing raises ethical questions that will need to be addressed by scientists and society at large.— Jennifer A. Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier
—often hyphenated when used before another noun a gene-editing technique called CRISPR
Examples of gene editing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists in the audience—and more than 1 million people watching a live webcast—strained to analyze He's data slides showing that the gene edits had taken place in one baby and been on target. — Jon Cohen, Science | AAAS, "The untold story of the ‘circle of trust’ behind the world’s first gene-edited babies," 1 Aug. 2019 This gene editing in people after birth is different from the controversial work a Chinese scientist did last year — altering the DNA of embryos at conception in a way that can pass the changes to future generations. — Washington Post, "First CRISPR study inside the body to start in US," 25 July 2019 In an action that could place 10 potentially lucrative patent applications from UC Berkeley in jeopardy, the U.S. patent office has reopened the thorny question of who invented a key CRISPR gene editing technology first. — Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, "In possible blow to UC, patent office revisits conflict over CRISPR invention," 27 June 2019 Vertex will also bolster its relationship with CRISPR Therapeutics, a gene editing company. — Orla Mccaffrey, Dallas News, "Boston research company bets on UT Southwestern researcher's gene therapy," 18 June 2019 Vertex agreed to exclusively license the gene editing technology for $175 million, plus future incentives of $1 billion. — Orla Mccaffrey, Dallas News, "Boston research company bets on UT Southwestern researcher's gene therapy," 18 June 2019 But the same mutation was already known to make humans more susceptible to other diseases, raising the question of whether the gene editing put its recipients at risk. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Target of first human gene editing cuts life expectancy short," 5 June 2019 And Sangamo Therapeutics, a company in Richmond, California, has employed an older gene editing tool called zinc finger nucleases to knock out a gene in some of the cells of HIV patients to help them resist the virus. — Jocelyn Kaiser, Science | AAAS, "Gene edited monkeys offer hope for heart disease patients," 9 July 2018 The gene editing system will recognize the normal DNA and make a cut in it. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Gene drive used to turn all female mosquitos sterile," 27 Sep. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gene editing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more