"Programmable base editing of A•T to G•C in genomic DNA without DNA cleavage," published in the online edition of Nature magazine on October 25, 2017, describes David R. Liu and colleague's new "base editing" method.

The original CRISPR gene-editing system acted as "a relatively unpredictable and blunt form of molecular scissors that cut sizeable sections of DNA," according to Elie Dolgin's follow-up article in Nature magazine. Now, Liu and team's new technique targets individual letters, or genetic bases, and has the potential to correct more than half of all human genetic diseases. David Liu calls it "precision chemical surgery."

Learn more:

Liu's Nature Paper

Nature News Article

Harvard Gazette Feature

Learn more about The Liu Lab.