Captain CRISPR is what scientists use to selectively modify the DNA of living organisms.  Specifically, the Captain is an enzyme called Cas9 that scans the DNA for a protospacer adjacent motif, or PAM, which is a site in the DNA that acts as a green light for making a cut. The Captain also has a cape that he calls his Guide RNA (gRNA), and it contains the specific RNA sequences that match up with the DNA target sequence. By using his gRNA cape like a compass, Captain CRISPR, can find and cut any gene as long as there is a PAM site next to it. If there is no match, he’ll just keep looking. A superhero has to stay vigilant!

Vicous Vectors

Viral vectors are used to deliver genes to cells. Two Vicious Vectors are Adam the AAV and Lenny the Lentivirus.

Donny Repair:

Donor DNA Repair Template

Donny Repair is a piece of DNA with a healthy version of a mutated gene that will repair the damaged DNA. Without Donny Repair, DNA can repair the break naturally through one of two ways: HDR which copies another DNA strand, or NHEJ which just makes up the missing DNA by inserting random pieces or deleting extra pieces of DNA.

Donny Repair repairs the DNA through the HDR process by inserting himself into the break.

Ester the E. coli

Ester the Escherichia coli is a bacteria that is found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals. The CRISPR/Cas system is naturally found in E. coli as a defense against disease!

Zlinkies the Zinc Fingers

Zinc fingers are small proteins that will recognize DNA and make a cut like the Captain. 

CarCAS9 the dead Cas9:

dCas9 is a “dead” version of Cas9, but just as powerful! She can shut the targeted gene off and not cut it. 

Jennifer Doudna & Emmanuelle Charpentier

Jennifer and Emmanuella both developed CRISPR.  They won a Nobel prize for their innovative research!

Feng Zhang

He is a molecular biologist that also worked on developing genome editing tools for CRISPR.

Colonel Cleave

Colonel Cleave, or by his enzyme code names, Cpf1 and Cas12a (yes, he has two!), is a bold new hero whom fights alongside Captain CRISPR. What makes him stand out is that he searches for a different PAM site than the Captain, and he also has his own trademark stylized cuts. The Colonel is so cool, that he doesn’t even need a tracrRNA to help him either!

Neha

Jaedyn

Harris

Colton