About This Project

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Gene scissors, otherwise known as engineered nucleases, are used to cut custom genes of interest (GOI). However, they rely upon natural DNA repair mechanisms to paste in the genes. This can produce any one of three results:

1. Original gene gets pasted in (no gene targeting).
2. No gene gets pasted in (potentially toxic gene deletion).
3. New gene gets pasted in (successful gene targeting).

What is the significance of this project?

Gene scissors enable us to cut a gene. Gene glue will enable us to paste a new gene.

Gene scissors were based on restriction enzymes. Gene glue will be based on ligases.

Gene scissors recognize the original gene. Gene glue will recognize the new gene.

We will be able to efficiently edit any gene.

What are the goals of the project?

Broadly speaking, we will create the first gene glue—formally referred to as a site-specific ligase.

1. Select and verify an appropriate ligase as a template for engineering the first "gene glue."
2. Test gene glue in vitro (in a test tube) with restriction enzymes.
3. Test gene glue in a bacterium with gene scissors.