One of the most exciting breakthroughs in science is here. CRISPR is a new technology that can edit DNA with remarkable precision, and it has the potential to change human lives forever.
With the ability to easily tweak DNA, scientists could theoretically remove genetic mutations that are responsible for incurable diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, HIV, and even certain cancers. Researchers are now beginning to test those possibilities on human cells in the lab. But CRISPR is already being used on crops, insects and more.
Watch the video above to learn more about how CRISPR works, and be sure to read TIME’s cover story on what the technology could mean for the future of medicine.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Essay: The Tyre Nichols Videos Demand Solemnity, Not Sensationalism
- For People With Disabilities, Losing Abortion Access Can Be a Matter of Life or Death
- Inside the Stealth Efforts to Smuggle Starlink Internet Into Iran
- Natasha Lyonne on Poker Face and Creating Characters Who Subvert Leading-Lady Tropes
- How to Help the Victims and Community After the Monterey Park Shooting
- Why Grocery Staples Are So Expensive Right Now
- Quantum Computers Could Solve Countless Problems—and Create a Lot of New Ones
- Where to Watch All of the 2023 Oscar Nominees
- How to Be Mindful if You Hate Meditating