gene editing

noun

variants or genome editing

: the use of biotechnological techniques to make changes to specific DNA sequences in the genome of a living organism

Fundamental research into the ways by which bacteria defend themselves against viruses has recently led to the development of powerful new techniques that make it possible to perform gene editing—that is, precisely altering genetic sequences—in living cells, including those of humans, at much higher accuracy and efficiency than ever before possible.

—David Baltimore et al.

The era of straightforward genome editing raises ethical questions that will need to be addressed by scientists and society at large.

—Jennifer A. Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

a gene-editing technique called CRISPR

Examples of gene editing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, the findings show the potential, at least in theory, to use gene editing to help solve currently existing environment dilemmas. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 12 Feb. 2025

Such responses hinder the efficacy of gene editing treatments and could also be detrimental, eliminating the cells targeted for modification. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

This could have enormous implications for using gene editing to treat a much broader swath of diseases in the coming years. —Juergen Eckhardt, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Because of the genetic differences between pigs and people, researchers have turned to gene editing to make pig organs more compatible with the human body. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1990, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gene editing

• accrediting
• discrediting
• crediting