CRISPR-Cas system: Toward a more efficient technology for genome editing and beyond

: Genome engineering technology is of great interest for biomedical research that enables scientists to make specific manipulation in the DNA sequence. Early methods for introducing double-stranded DNA breaks relies on protein-based systems. These platforms have enabled fascinating advances, but all are costly and time-consuming to engineer, preventing these from gaining high-throughput applications. The CRISPR-Cas9 system, co-opted from bacteria, has generated considerable excitement in gene targeting. In this review, we describe gene targeting techniques with an emphasis on recent strategies to improve the specificities of CRISPR-Cas systems for nuclease and non-nuclease applications.