Detecting Cancer With CRISPR

CRISPR is a tool that can be used to edit DNA.  New research shows that the method is also very good at detecting diseases and disease-causing microbes (viruses, and bacteria). CRISPR may also be a potent weapon to detect antibiotic resistance and cancer.  CRISPR is able to detect the cancer-causing mutations found in even a tiny drop of patient’s blood.  In addition to the benefit of early cancer detection, the method can also help researchers understand how cancer genes change (mutate) over time.  In the future, this technology will transform diagnosis of cancer and impact overall world health.