CRISPR-COVID

In past blog postings about CRISPR technology, the story has always been around patent disputes involving UC and others. But the Daily Cal has a story that connects this technology to coronavirus testing:

Scientists from UC Berkeley are part of a research team using Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR technology to develop a COVID-19 diagnostic test that is fast, convenient and can be performed on-site. The team overseeing the study includes scientists in the labs of Jennifer Doudna, campus professor of chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology; David Savage, campus associate professor of biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology in the department of molecular & cell biology and Patrick Hsu, campus assistant professor of bioengineering...

[The new test overcomes] limitations of current COVID-19 testing. ...The “gold standard” is the qRT-PCR test, which still requires a centralized laboratory, specialized equipment and several hours to process. It can take several days before results are revealed... The method of testing that relies on CRISPR will be fast, sensitive and may be implemented in a way that allows people to receive their test results instantly...

Full article at https://www.dailycal.org/2021/08/09/uc-berkeley-scientists-use-crispr-technology-to-develop-rapid-covid-19-diagnostic-test/.