CRISPR genome editing technology enables targeted genetic modification of virtually any species with unprecedented efficiency. For biomedical research, CRISPR technology offers unparalleled opportunities to develop accurate and sophisticated cell and animal disease models using virtually any species or cell type. Importantly, CRISPR can also be used to modify the human genome in vivo, enabling functional correction of disease-causing mutations for precision medicine applications.
Prof Paul Thomas is Director of the SA Genome Editing (SAGE) facility and the Genome Editing Laboratory (GEL) at SAHMRI. He was an early adopter of CRISPR technology and his lab has generated over 60 mutant mouse lines using CRISPR editing. Prof Thomas will provide an overview CRISPR editing and describe novel applications and unexpected outcomes of this relatively new technology.