Topic Introduction

Design and Validation of Guide RNAs for CRISPR–Cas9 Genome Editing in Mosquitoes

  1. Benjamin J. Matthews1
  1. Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
  1. 1Correspondence: ben.matthews{at}zoology.ubc.ca

Abstract

CRISPR–Cas9 has revolutionized gene editing for traditional and nontraditional model organisms alike. This tool has opened the door to new mechanistic studies of basic mosquito biology as well as the development of novel vector control strategies based on CRISPR–Cas9, including gene drives that spread genetic elements in the population. Although the promise of the specificity, flexibility, and ease of deployment CRISPR is real, its implementation still requires empirical optimization for each new species of interest, as well as to each genomic target within a given species. Here, we provide an overview of designing and testing single-guide RNAs for the use of CRISPR-based gene editing tools.

Footnotes

  • From the Mosquitoes collection, edited by Laura B. Duvall and Benjamin J. Matthews.

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