The method enables the researchers to deliver artificial RNA devices — such as RNA processors, scaffolds, and imaging applications — to specific points on the genome. The work was led by John Rinn who, with his colleagues, is using the approach to better study long, non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are hard to study using traditional knockout methods. With CRISP-Disp, the researchers can relocate lncRNAs to study them in isolation.
To learn more, read the team’s paper, which was published online by the journal Nature Methods.