🧬 CRISPR Gene Editor
CRISPR Gene Editing Interactive Simulation
This CRISPR simulation demonstrates how the Cas9 enzyme uses a guide RNA to locate a complementary sequence in a genome and introduce a precise double-strand break, enabling gene knockout or targeted insertion. Students explore why guide RNA specificity matters, what happens during the cell's DNA repair response (NHEJ vs. HDR), and how off-target cuts can create unintended mutations. It brings one of the most transformative biotechnologies of the 21st century into the classroom as an accessible free online tool.
What you can do in this simulation
- Design a guide RNA sequence and watch Cas9 scan the genome for a complementary target
- Observe the double-strand break and choose between NHEJ (error-prone) and HDR (template-based) repair pathways
- See how small insertions or deletions from NHEJ can disrupt a gene's reading frame
- Test off-target cutting by introducing mismatches in the guide RNA
- Simulate inserting a corrective gene sequence via HDR with a donor template
Concepts covered
CRISPR-Cas9 · guide RNA · gene editing · DNA repair · genomics · biotechnology
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