How the Science of CRISPR Can Change Your Genes

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.

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Write to Lon Tweeten at lon.tweeten@time.com.