CRISPR-Cas9: Timeline of key events

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The advantage of the technique is it enables scientists to disable specific genes and correct harmful mutations by providing cells with fresh DNA strands with to repair the cut. Unlike Crispr-Cas9, which chops target DNA in half, prime editing nicks it and then writes a new section of DNA into the specified region. The new procedure was published in AW Anzalone et al, 'Search-and-replace genome editing without double-strand breaks or donor DNA', Nature (2019), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1711-42019-10-21T00:00:00+0000He Jiankui, who used the gene-editing technology to make twin babies immune to HIV by altering gene CCR5, was sentenced to three years in prison by a Chinese court and fined around $430,000. 2019-12-30T00:00:00+0000A person with Leber’s congenital amaurosis 10 (LCA10), a genetic condition that is a leading cause of blindness in childhood, was given the treatment. It involved administering a CRISPR–Cas9 gene therapy directly into the patient's eye, near photoreceptor cells. The treatment aims to delete a mutation in the gene CEP290 that is responsible for LCA10. The procedure was performed at Oregon Health and Science University by Mark Pennesi. 2020-03-04T00:00:00+0000
Date Event People Places Sciences
21 Oct 2019New DNA editing technique called 'prime editing' publishedAnzalone, Randolph, Davis, Sousa, Koblan, Levy, Chen, Wilson, Newby, Ranguram, LiuMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard UniversityCrispr-Cas9, Gene editing,
30 Dec 2019Chinese scientist convicted for using CRISPR-Cas9 in human babiesJiankuiSouthern University of Science and Technology of ChinaCrispr-Cas9, Gene editing,
4 Mar 2020First patient received gene editing therapy with CRISPR directly administered into the bodyPennesiOregon Health and Science UniversityCrispr-Cas9, Gene editing, Opthalmology, Gene therapy

21 Oct 2019

New DNA editing technique called 'prime editing' published

30 Dec 2019

Chinese scientist convicted for using CRISPR-Cas9 in human babies

4 Mar 2020

First patient received gene editing therapy with CRISPR directly administered into the body

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