A June 2023 study discovered Fanzors, CRISPR-like DNA-snippers in eukaryotes, including fungi, algae, amoebae, and a clam.
Fanzor is smaller than Cas enzymes, making it a potential fit for smaller viruses for delivery to cells. However, it may have a disadvantage in cutting multiple identical sites in a genome.
CRISPR-Cas systems work well in most organisms, but Fanzor might be useful for scientists working with certain bacteria where Cas enzymes are toxic.
Knowable Magazine | Annual ReviewsCRISPR gene editing: Moving closer to homeWith the first medical therapy approved and systems like CRISPR-Cas showing up in complex cells, there’s a lot going on in the genome editing field. Here’s our primer.
