The continuing CRISPR patent saga

CRISPR has the potential to be one of the most revolutionary (or dangerous) genetic manipulation technologies ever developed.

It provides researchers with the ability to “edit” genetic information (including both structural genes encoding proteins as well as regulatory sequences that control when a gene is expressed, how much, and in what tissue) in ways heretofore only more crudely practiced; for example, by introducing a heterologous gene into a new cellular environment. It thus has implications for agriculture — increasing yield, for example, or reducing allergens like gluten — as well as human medicine.