A molecular on/off switch for CRISPR

Scientists have figured out how anti-CRISPR proteins work.  CRISPR-Cas 9 is the most recognized crispr system but there are 19 others.  CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats.  Crispr RNA scans bacterial DNA for viral DNA that it recognizes.  In this article scientists have found that two anti-crispr proteins work by either stopping crispr from scanning or "mimicking" sequences of DNA so the crispr binds to it.

Scientists believe that by understanding how these proteins work that they can fine tune gene editing.  This could greatly impact the future of medicine.  Improved gene therapeutic techniques could also lead to custom gene editing.  It is exciting to see where researchers will go with this next.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170328132201.htm
http://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(17)30291-X?_returnURL=http%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS009286741730291X%3Fshowall%3Dtrue