Off-target effect
In gene editing, the phenomenon in which imprecise matching between guide RNA and the target sequence causes unintended cleavage at similar sites. Such events may produce insertions or deletions and carry carcinogenic risk.
Timeline (last 90 days)
The matching between guide RNA and the target sequence is not absolutely precise and may cause unintended cutting at sites with similar sequences (off-target effects), thereby triggering insertion-deletion mutations or even cancer risk.
A new generation of gene editing tools has significantly improved specificity, but the detection and quantification of off-target effects still have methodological limitations.
A single CRISPR edit is easy; what is difficult is modifying hundreds or thousands of sites simultaneously without triggering off-target effects and genomic instability, which is also an important reason why AI was introduced to optimize editing strategies.
All Facts (3)
The matching between guide RNA and the target sequence is not absolutely precise and may cause unintended cutting at sites with similar sequences (off-target effects), thereby triggering insertion-deletion mutations or even cancer risk.
50%UnverifiedA new generation of gene editing tools has significantly improved specificity, but the detection and quantification of off-target effects still have methodological limitations.
50%UnverifiedA single CRISPR edit is easy; what is difficult is modifying hundreds or thousands of sites simultaneously without triggering off-target effects and genomic instability, which is also an important reason why AI was introduced to optimize editing strategies.
50%