Harvard College

Marc Guell

George M Church

Luhan Yang

Joyce Lichi Yang

A method of modulating some or all copies of a gene in a cell is provided including introducing into a cell one or more ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequences that comprise a portion that is complementary to all or a portion of each of the one or more target nucleic acid sequences, and a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a Cas protein and maintaining the cells under conditions in which the Cas protein is expressed and the Cas protein binds and modulates the one or more target nucleic acid sequences in the cell.

Multiplexed genome editing

Methods are provided for altering target DNA in a cell genetically modified to express a Cas 9 enzyme that forms a co-localization complex with a guide RNA complementary to the target DNA and that cleaves the target DNA in a site specific manner. Methods include introducing into the cell a first foreign nucleic acid encoding a donor nucleic acid sequence, introducing into the cell from media surrounding the cell the guide RNA complementary to the target DNA and which guides the Cas 9 enzyme to the target DNA, wherein the RNA and the enzyme are members of a co-localization complex for the target DNA, wherein the donor nucleic acid sequence is expressed, wherein the guide RNA and the Cas 9 enzyme co-localize to the target DNA, the Cas 9 enzyme cleaves the target DNA and the donor nucleic acid is inserted into the target DNA to produce altered DNA in the cell.

Genome engineering

Methods are provided for the use of Cas9 in genome engineering of stem cells. Methods include introducing into the stem cell a first foreign nucleic acid encoding a guide RNA complementary to a target DNA and which guides a Cas9 enzyme to the target DNA, wherein the RNA and the enzyme are members of a co-localization complex for the target DNA, introducing into the stem cell a second foreign nucleic acid encoding a donor nucleic acid sequence, wherein the guide RNA and the donor nucleic acid sequences are expressed, wherein the guide RNA and the Cas 9 enzyme co-localize to the target DNA, the Cas 9 enzyme cleaves the target DNA and the donor nucleic acid is inserted into the target DNA to produce altered DNA in the stem cell.

Methods of genome engineering in cells using a TALEN lacking repeat sequences or Cas9 is provided.

Growing community of inventors

Barcelona, Spain

Marc Guell