The Editas approach (CRISPR / Cas) attempts to mimic a natural immune defense system found in bacteria that involves saving a snippet of an invading virus» DNA that can be used by the bacteria to rewrite the virus's DNA if it returns, preventing it from replicating. (fool.com)
The work may offer ways to target and adjust our own immune defense system for infections, says Yipp. (sciencenews.org)
CRISPR is a technology based on a bacterial immune defense system which uses Cas9, a nuclease, to cut up foreign genetic material (e.g., viral RNA). (myscizzle.com)