CRISPR kick-started a golden age of genetic research — but in nature, there are hundreds of similar systems with unexplored potential for gene editing. Now, scientists have made huge strides in explaining how an enigmatic system called SPARDA works.
CRISPR systems have enabled scientists to edit genetic information more easily than ever before. Although it's best known for its use in gene editing, CRISPR is actually an adapted bacterial immune defense system that was repurposed for human use.
