{"id":3338,"date":"2021-07-26T14:21:58","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T14:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/devpages.idtdna.com\/page\/crispr-abbreviations-and-definitions"},"modified":"2025-08-08T06:41:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T06:41:40","slug":"crispr-info-that-s-a-cut-above-the-rest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgstage.idtdna.com\/page\/support-and-education\/decoded-plus\/crispr-info-that-s-a-cut-above-the-rest\/","title":{"rendered":"CRISPR Abbreviations and Definitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you’re new to genome editing or an experienced scientist, it can be challenging to keep up with the terminology, definitions, and abbreviations, particularly when it has to do with such rapidly advancing technology as CRISPR<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CRISPR genome editing has revolutionized biological sciences, from medicine to agriculture to industry, making it possible to edit the DNA sequence of almost any living organism. Keeping up with this technology, however, can be overwhelming.<\/p>\n

The uses, applications<\/a>, and techniques of CRISPR seem to expand on a monthly basis, making it necessary to stay on top of the latest CRISPR-related abbreviations. We’re here to make things easier for you! We’ve compiled a handy list of CRISPR abbreviations and definitions to keep on a lab shelf,  desk drawer, or back-pocket cheat sheet!<\/p>\n

CRISPR and DNA Related Abbreviations<\/h2>\n

As promised, here are some abbreviations and definitions you will come across during your CRISPR genome editing studies:<\/p>\n

A.s.<\/em><\/strong> – Acidaminococcus<\/em> species<\/em><\/p>\n

Cas<\/strong> – CRISPR-associated (enzyme)<\/p>\n

Cpf1<\/a><\/strong> – Another name for Cas12a. Technically, Cpf1 stands for “CRISPR from Prevotella<\/em> and Francisella<\/em> 1”<\/p>\n

CRISPR<\/strong> – Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats<\/p>\n

CRISPRa<\/strong> – CRISPR-mediated gene activation<\/p>\n

CRISPRi<\/strong> – CRISPR interference<\/p>\n

crRNA<\/a><\/strong> – CRISPR RNA<\/p>\n

dCas9<\/strong> – Dead Cas9 (catalytically dead Cas9)<\/p>\n

DSB<\/strong> – Double-strand break (double-strand DNA break)<\/p>\n

dsDNA<\/strong> – Double-stranded DNA<\/a><\/p>\n

FACS<\/strong> – Fluorescence-activated cell sorting<\/p>\n

FASTA<\/strong> – A file format for DNA and protein sequences (it stands for Fast Alignment and Search Tool-All)<\/p>\n

gRNA<\/strong> – Guide RNA<\/a><\/p>\n

GUIDE-seq<\/strong> – Genome-wide unbiased identification of DSBs evaluated by sequencing<\/p>\n

HDR<\/strong> – Homology-directed repair<\/p>\n

IFN<\/strong> – Interferon<\/p>\n

IVT<\/strong> – In vitro<\/em> transcription<\/p>\n

L.b. – <\/em><\/strong>Lachnospiraceae bacterium<\/em><\/p>\n

NCBI<\/strong> – National Center for Biotechnology Information<\/p>\n

NGS<\/strong> – Next generation sequencing<\/a><\/p>\n

NHEJ<\/strong> – Non-homologous end joining<\/p>\n

NLS<\/strong> – Nuclear localization sequence<\/p>\n

PAM<\/strong> – Protospacer-adjacent motif<\/p>\n

PCR<\/strong> – Polymerase chain reaction<\/p>\n

RNAi<\/strong> – RNA interference<\/p>\n

RNP<\/strong> – Ribonucleoprotein<\/p>\n

S.p.<\/em><\/strong> – Streptococcus<\/em> pyogenes<\/em><\/p>\n

sgRNA<\/a><\/strong> – Single-guide RNA<\/p>\n

ssDNA<\/strong> – Single-stranded DNA<\/a><\/p>\n

ssODN<\/strong> – Single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide<\/p>\n

T7EI<\/strong> – T7 endonuclease I<\/p>\n

TALEN<\/strong> – Transcription activator-like effector nuclease<\/p>\n

tracrRNA<\/a><\/strong> – Transactivating CRISPR RNA ZFN<\/strong> – Zinc finger nuclease Download our free CRISPR Basics Handbook<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you’re looking for more helpful CRISPR information and reminders, we’ve got you covered. Just download our free CRISPR Basics Handbook<\/a>.<\/p>\n