Mechanisms and Evolution of Genome Editing Systems

1 Course Unit

This course explores genome editing from the perspective of molecular mechanisms, biochemical principles, and evolutionary origins. It begins with natural nucleic acid-targeting systems involved in host defense and genome mobility, including restriction enzymes and CRISPR-based immunity, and develops CRISPR as a central example of how biological systems can be repurposed into programmable technologies. The course then extends to other evolution-derived platforms, including transposons, group II introns, and emerging RNA-guided systems, and examines modular enzymatic systems such as recombinases, integrases, and reverse transcriptases for genome manipulation. The final portion focuses on applications in functional genomics and therapeutic development, with emphasis on design strategies, delivery considerations, and current limitations. 1 Course Unit