UF DNA-guided CRISPR breakthrough

Engineers at the University of Florida have developed a new CRISPR system that uses DNA to guide enzymes to their targets. The work was first reported in a 2024 preprint and formally published this week in Nature Biotechnology. The DNA based approach is more stable and less costly to manufacture than traditional RNA guided systems, according to the researchers. Piyush Jain, associate professor and the Shah Rising Professor in the department of chemical engineering at the university, led the study. The system targets RNA, the working copies of genetic instructions, allowing intervention without immediate changes to DNA. It showed drastically reduced unintended effects and improved precision compared with existing RNA targeting CRISPR tools. The co first authors are doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers Carlos Orosco, Boyu Huang and Santosh Rananaware from Jain's lab. In collaboration with UT Austin researchers, the team released the structure of the DNA guided system in a separate preprint in March 2026. The technology detected hepatitis C with complete accuracy and can catch viruses like HIV early, the study found. Researchers see applications in more precise therapies, improved diagnostics and studies of disease development. The system could also help repair donor organs outside the body before transplantation. Jain said early targeted applications could emerge within a few years, particularly where cells or tissues are treated outside the body, while broader use will require additional testing.