The genome editing revolution

John van der Oost; Constantinos Patinios

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.12.022

The genome editing revolution

Trends Biotechnol. 2023 Mar;41(3):396-409. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.12.022. Epub 2023 Jan 27.

Authors

John van der Oost¹, Constantinos Patinios²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: john.vanderoost@wur.nl.
² Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: constantinos.patinios@wur.nl.

PMID: 36709094
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.12.022

Abstract

A series of spectacular scientific discoveries and technological advances in the second half of the 20th century have provided the basis for the ongoing genome editing revolution. The elucidation of structural and functional features of DNA and RNA was followed by pioneering studies on genome editing: Molecular biotechnology was born. Since then, four decades followed during which progress of scientific insights and technological methods continued at an overwhelming pace. Fundamental insights into microbial host-virus interactions led to the development of tools for genome editing using restriction enzymes or the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas technology. In this review, we provide a historical overview of milestones that led to the genome editing revolution and speculate about future trends in biotechnology.

Keywords: CRISPR-Cas; biotechnology; genome editing; recombineering.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biotechnology / methods
CRISPR-Cas Systems*
DNA / genetics
Gene Editing* / methods

Substances

DNA