Gene editing technologies work by introducing site-specific double-strand breaks in the DNA, which the cell repairs through mechanisms like non-homologous end joining or homology-directed repair. CRISPR-Cas9 is the most widely used tool due to its simplicity and efficiency. It uses a guide RNA to direct the Cas9 enzyme to a specific DNA sequence, where the enzyme makes a cut. The cell's repair process can then be harnessed to add, delete, or replace genetic material.
