How does genome editing work?

Genome editing, or genome engineering, or gene editing, is a type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted, modified or replaced in the genome of a living organism. Unlike early genetic engineering techniques that randomly inserts genetic material into a host genome, genome editing targets the insertions to site specific locations.

Researchers funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and other research institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are adopting newer techniques, such as CRISPR, to conduct their investigations. A robust understanding of how the genome gives rise to health and disease will aid the development of new treatments, including gene therapy.

Reference:

Capecchi, M. R. (2005). Gene targeting in mice: functional analysis of the mammalian genome for the twenty-first century. Nat Rev Genet, 6(6), 507-512. doi:10.1038/nrg1619