{"meta":{"source":"The CRISPR Atlas","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io","count":17,"licence":"Free for non-commercial use with attribution and a link back. Values are compiled from the cited public sources; verify against the primary source before relying on them."},"data":[{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"crispr-cas9","name":"CRISPR-Cas9","tagline":"A protein that can be programmed with a short RNA guide to find one specific sequence in a genome and cut it.","category":"Nuclease editing","status":"Approved","evidence":"Approved treatment","data":{"scores":{"maturity":5,"precision":3},"compare":{"cuts":"Yes — double-strand break","cargo":"Cas9 is large (~4.2 kb of coding sequence), which strains AAV packaging limits","edits":"DNA, both strands","risks":"Large deletions, chromosomal rearrangements, p53 activation, off-target cuts","delivery":"Well established: RNP electroporation ex vivo, lipid nanoparticles to liver in vivo","maturity":"Approved medicine; multiple Phase 3 programmes","precision":"High at the target site; off-target cutting is measurable and must be assayed","applications":"Gene knockout, research screens, ex vivo cell therapy"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/crispr-cas9","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/crispr-cas9"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"base-editing","name":"Base Editing","tagline":"Chemically converts one DNA letter into another at a chosen position, without cutting both strands of the double helix.","category":"Precision editing","status":"Phase III","evidence":"Clinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":3,"precision":5},"compare":{"cuts":"No — nick only","cargo":"Large fusion protein; harder to package into AAV than Cas9 alone","edits":"DNA, single bases","risks":"Bystander edits, RNA off-target activity with early editors, immune response","delivery":"Lipid nanoparticles to liver in vivo; RNP or mRNA ex vivo","maturity":"Pivotal trials under way; no approval yet","precision":"Very high at the intended base; bystander edits in the window are the main concern","applications":"Correcting point mutations, switching genes off cleanly, multiplexed cell-therapy edits"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/base-editing","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/base-editing"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"prime-editing","name":"Prime Editing","tagline":"Writes a new stretch of DNA sequence directly into a chosen site, using a guide that carries the replacement text with it.","category":"Precision editing","status":"Phase I/II","evidence":"Clinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":2,"precision":5},"compare":{"cuts":"No — single-strand nick","cargo":"Very large — the hardest of the mainstream editors to deliver","edits":"DNA, short sequences","risks":"Unintended insertions at the nick, variable efficiency, delivery burden","delivery":"Ex vivo cell therapy; in vivo delivery still largely preclinical","maturity":"First-in-human results published; earliest clinical stage here","precision":"Very high in principle; real-world efficiency is highly site-dependent","applications":"Correcting the specific mutation a patient actually has; small insertions and deletions"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/prime-editing","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/prime-editing"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"cas12","name":"CRISPR-Cas12","tagline":"A family of CRISPR nucleases that cut DNA leaving staggered ends, use a different sequence requirement from Cas9, and can be smaller.","category":"Nuclease editing","status":"Phase I/II","evidence":"Clinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":3,"precision":4},"compare":{"cuts":"Yes — staggered double-strand break","cargo":"Cas12a similar to Cas9; CasX notably smaller","edits":"DNA, both strands","risks":"Same double-strand-break hazards as Cas9; collateral activity in cells","delivery":"RNP and viral vectors; small variants ease AAV packaging","maturity":"Clinical cell-therapy programmes; widely used in diagnostics","precision":"Comparable to Cas9; reported to tolerate fewer mismatches in some contexts","applications":"Multiplex editing, allogeneic CAR-T, DETECTR diagnostics"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/cas12","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/cas12"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"cas13","name":"CRISPR-Cas13","tagline":"Targets RNA rather than DNA, so it can silence a gene's message without touching the genome itself.","category":"RNA targeting","status":"Phase I","evidence":"Clinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":2,"precision":3},"compare":{"cuts":"No DNA cutting at all","cargo":"Cas13d is compact and packages well into AAV","edits":"RNA","risks":"Collateral RNA damage, immune response, loss of effect on withdrawal","delivery":"AAV and lipid nanoparticles; requires repeat or sustained dosing","maturity":"Early clinical work; widely used in diagnostics","precision":"Good against the target transcript; collateral RNA cleavage is the main concern","applications":"Knocking down a harmful transcript, RNA editing, diagnostics"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/cas13","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/cas13"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"cas14","name":"Cas14 and miniature Cas systems","tagline":"Unusually small CRISPR nucleases — roughly a third the size of Cas9 — discovered in archaea and bacteriophages.","category":"Nuclease editing","status":"Discovery","evidence":"Laboratory research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":1,"precision":3},"compare":{"cuts":"Yes","cargo":"Very small — its defining advantage","edits":"DNA","risks":"Not established in a clinical setting","delivery":"Fits AAV with room to spare","maturity":"Laboratory research only","precision":"Under characterisation; generally lower activity than SpCas9 in human cells","applications":"Delivery-constrained editing, diagnostics"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/cas14","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/cas14"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"rna-editing","name":"RNA Editing","tagline":"Changes letters in the RNA message rather than in the DNA, so the effect is real but temporary and the genome is untouched.","category":"RNA targeting","status":"Phase I/II","evidence":"Clinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":2,"precision":4},"compare":{"cuts":"No","cargo":"Guide-only approaches are very small; fusion approaches are large","edits":"RNA, single bases","risks":"Loss of effect between doses, immune response, off-target RNA editing","delivery":"Lipid nanoparticles and AAV; repeat dosing required","maturity":"Early clinical","precision":"Good; bystander editing within the target transcript is the main concern","applications":"Reversible correction, targets where permanence is hard to justify"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/rna-editing","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/rna-editing"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"epigenetic-editing","name":"Epigenetic Editing","tagline":"Changes how loudly a gene is expressed by rewriting the chemical marks on and around it, without altering a single letter of DNA sequence.","category":"Gene regulation","status":"Preclinical","evidence":"Preclinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":2,"precision":3},"compare":{"cuts":"No","cargo":"Large fusion proteins","edits":"Chemical marks on DNA and histones — no sequence change","risks":"Durability unproven; effects on neighbouring genes; possible fade over time","delivery":"Lipid nanoparticles; delivery is the main obstacle","maturity":"Preclinical, with the first human studies beginning","precision":"Targets a region rather than a base; neighbouring genes can be affected","applications":"Turning expression up or down, potentially reversibly"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/epigenetic-editing","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/epigenetic-editing"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"crispra","name":"CRISPRa (gene activation)","tagline":"Uses a disabled CRISPR protein to switch a gene up rather than to cut it.","category":"Gene regulation","status":"Research tool","evidence":"Laboratory research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":1,"precision":3},"compare":{"cuts":"No","cargo":"Large fusion","edits":"Expression level only","risks":"Off-target activation; effect fades without sustained expression","delivery":"Mostly laboratory settings","maturity":"Research tool","precision":"Region-level; neighbouring genes can be affected","applications":"Functional screens, potential haploinsufficiency therapy"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/crispra","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/crispra"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"crispri","name":"CRISPRi (gene silencing)","tagline":"Parks a disabled CRISPR protein on a gene to block it from being read, turning it down without changing it.","category":"Gene regulation","status":"Research tool","evidence":"Laboratory research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":1,"precision":3},"compare":{"cuts":"No","cargo":"Large fusion","edits":"Expression level only","risks":"Off-target repression; effect fades","delivery":"Mostly laboratory settings","maturity":"Research tool","precision":"Region-level","applications":"Screens, target validation"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/crispri","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/crispri"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"talens","name":"TALENs","tagline":"Custom-built proteins that recognise DNA letter by letter and cut — the technique CRISPR largely displaced, still in clinical use.","category":"Earlier generation","status":"Phase I/II","evidence":"Clinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":3,"precision":4},"compare":{"cuts":"Yes — double-strand break","cargo":"Very large coding sequence; awkward for viral delivery","edits":"DNA, both strands","risks":"Same double-strand-break hazards; repetitive sequence complicates manufacture","delivery":"mRNA and electroporation, mostly ex vivo","maturity":"In clinical use in cell therapy","precision":"High; the obligate dimer requirement helps","applications":"Allogeneic cell therapy, mitochondrial editing"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/talens","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/talens"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"zinc-finger-nucleases","name":"Zinc Finger Nucleases","tagline":"The first programmable gene-editing tool to reach patients — small, engineered proteins that grip DNA in three-letter blocks.","category":"Earlier generation","status":"Phase III","evidence":"Clinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":4,"precision":3},"compare":{"cuts":"Yes — double-strand break","cargo":"Compact — a real delivery advantage","edits":"DNA, both strands","risks":"Off-target cutting, double-strand-break hazards, difficult design","delivery":"AAV and mRNA","maturity":"Long clinical history; late-stage programmes","precision":"Variable; depends heavily on the quality of the engineered array","applications":"In vivo editing where size matters, ex vivo cell therapy"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/zinc-finger-nucleases","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/zinc-finger-nucleases"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"recombinases","name":"Recombinases and integrases","tagline":"Enzymes that cut and rejoin DNA at defined sites, able to insert whole genes rather than edit single letters.","category":"Large-cargo editing","status":"Preclinical","evidence":"Preclinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":1,"precision":4},"compare":{"cuts":"No free double-strand break","cargo":"Very large — its main advantage","edits":"DNA, large segments","risks":"Cargo landing in the wrong place; delivery complexity","delivery":"Multi-component systems are hard to deliver together","maturity":"Preclinical","precision":"High at the recognition site; the site itself must be installed","applications":"Whole-gene insertion, cell-line engineering"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/recombinases","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/recombinases"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"transposases","name":"Transposases","tagline":"Enzymes that cut a segment of DNA out of one place and paste it into another — nature's own copy-and-paste.","category":"Large-cargo editing","status":"Phase I/II","evidence":"Clinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":3,"precision":2},"compare":{"cuts":"Cuts and rejoins as part of transposition","cargo":"Large","edits":"DNA, large segments","risks":"Insertional mutagenesis, uncontrolled copy number","delivery":"Non-viral; plasmid or mRNA plus transposon","maturity":"Used in clinical cell manufacturing","precision":"Low for classical transposases; improving with CAST systems","applications":"CAR-T manufacturing, gene insertion"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/transposases","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/transposases"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"gene-therapy","name":"Gene Therapy (gene addition)","tagline":"Delivers a working copy of a gene into cells without changing the existing genome — the older approach that gene editing is often confused with.","category":"Related approach","status":"Approved","evidence":"Approved treatment","data":{"scores":{"maturity":5,"precision":1},"compare":{"cuts":"No","cargo":"Limited by the vector: about 4.7 kb for AAV","edits":"Nothing — a copy is added","risks":"Immune responses to vector, liver toxicity at high doses, insertional mutagenesis with lentivirus, loss of effect in dividing tissue","delivery":"The most clinically established of any approach here","maturity":"Multiple approved products","precision":"Not applicable — nothing is targeted for change","applications":"Replacing a missing protein"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/gene-therapy","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/gene-therapy"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"rna-interference","name":"RNA Interference","tagline":"Uses the cell's own machinery to destroy a specific RNA message, lowering a protein's level without touching DNA.","category":"RNA targeting","status":"Approved","evidence":"Approved treatment","data":{"scores":{"maturity":5,"precision":4},"compare":{"cuts":"No","cargo":"Small","edits":"RNA — destroyed, not edited","risks":"Requires lifelong repeat dosing; off-target knockdown; injection-site reactions","delivery":"Very well established for liver","maturity":"Approved medicines in routine use","precision":"Good; off-target silencing of similar sequences is the main concern","applications":"Lowering a harmful protein, reversibly"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/rna-interference","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/rna-interference"},{"kind":"technology","kind_label":"Technology","slug":"synthetic-biology","name":"Synthetic Biology","tagline":"Designing genetic parts and circuits so that cells perform new functions — the engineering discipline that gene editing serves as a tool.","category":"Related approach","status":"Phase III","evidence":"Clinical research","data":{"scores":{"maturity":4,"precision":3},"compare":{"cuts":"Varies","cargo":"Often large multi-gene constructs","edits":"Whole circuits and constructs","risks":"Immune reactions, uncontrolled cell behaviour, manufacturing complexity","delivery":"Mostly ex vivo cell engineering","maturity":"Approved engineered cell therapies; editing-dependent versions in trials","precision":"Depends entirely on the tools used within it","applications":"CAR-T, engineered microbes, biosensors, biomanufacturing"}},"updated":"2026-08-19","href":"/technologies/synthetic-biology","url":"https://crispr2.2.25.209.181.nip.io/technologies/synthetic-biology"}]}