Using AI to keep CRISPR technology in-check

Using AI to keep CRISPR technology in-check

Last year, a ten-month-old baby in the US was the first person in the world to have their rare genetic disease effectively cured through the use of CRISPR gene editing technology. But the rollout of CRISPR across a wide range of genetic conditions has been hampered by its inconsistency, and its potential to cause harm to healthy genes. Now a team of Melbourne scientists have used AI to develop a fast and accurate way to keep CRISPR in line.

AI‑Designed Anti‑CRISPRs Enable Rapid Cas13 Inhibition

Last year’s landmark case of “Baby KJ”—the first patient to receive a personalized CRISPR‑based gene therapy—showcased both the promise and the persistent challenges of genome editing. While CRISPR systems can act as remarkably precise molecular scissors, their active enzymes don’t always switch off cleanly. Lingering Cas activity can nick unintended DNA or RNA targets, raising the risk of harmful mutations in healthy genes. For CRISPR to reach …