The genome editor CRISPR, whose invention is at the heart of a fierce patent battle, typically uses a RNA molecule (red) to guide a DNA-cutting enzyme such as Cas9 (orange) to a DNA sequence (blue) targeted for cutting.
By Jon CohenThe long-running patent battle over CRISPR, the genome editor that may bring a Nobel prize and many millions of dollars to whomever is credited with its invention, has taken a new twist that vastly complicates the claims made by a team led by the University of California.The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) ruled 10 September that a group led by the Broad Institute has “priority” in its already granted patents for uses of the original CRISPR system in eukaryotic cells, which covers potentially lucrative.