CRISPR

American

[kris-per] / ˈkrɪs pər /

Sometimes Crispr

noun

Biochemistry. a unique cluster of short, repeated DNA sequences found in bacterial genomes and capable of fighting viruses.

CRISPR enables bacteria to integrate foreign DNA into their genome.
Genetics. the technology of targeting a DNA-detecting molecule to a specific genetic sequence for the purpose of editing a gene’s base pairs.

The approach called CRISPR should speed up the process by allowing researchers to study the entire genome at once.

Etymology

Origin of CRISPR

First recorded in 2000–05; acronym from C(lustered) R(egularly) I(nterspaced) S(hort) P(alindromic) R(epeats)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Their research combines caffeine with CRISPR, a powerful gene editing tool known as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, to explore new ways to treat chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

From Science Daily

This interaction activates CRISPR, which then carries out specific gene modifications within the cell.

From Science Daily

Zhou and his colleagues plan to continue preclinical testing and investigate additional medical uses for caffebodies and CRISPR.

From Science Daily

Farmers, buggy-whip manufacturers, customer service operators become Crispr gene slicers, AI engine optimizers, legal arbitrageurs using prediction markets and other jobs mostly unimaginable, yet.

From The Wall Street Journal

Using the gene-editing tool CRISPR, plant biologists focused on goldenberry, a small fruit related to tomatoes.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023