When was the first bacterial CRISPR system identified?
Quick Answer
CRISPR sequences were first noticed in bacteria in 1987, and their immune function was understood in the 2000s. This discovery later led to gene-editing technology.
The Full Story
The clustered repeats now known as CRISPR were first reported in bacteria in 1987. For years their function was unknown, but in the early 2000s researchers connected them to a bacterial immune system that stores pieces of viral DNA. That insight transformed CRISPR from a microbial curiosity into a revolutionary genome-editing tool. The original bacterial discovery is one of the clearest examples of basic microbiology leading to a major technological breakthrough.
Key Facts
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"A bacterial defense system that changed genetics"
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