Gene editing is a technique that allows scientists to modify an organism’s DNA with precision. This is achieved through technologies like CRISPR-Cas9, which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9. CRISPR-Cas9 works like molecular scissors, guided by an RNA sequence to a specific location in the genome, where it introduces cuts in the DNA. Once the DNA is cut, the cell’s natural repair mechanisms kick in. Scientists can harness these repair processes to add, delete, or replace genetic material.

The process involves three main steps:
1. **Designing a Guide RNA (gRNA)**: The gRNA is designed to match the target DNA sequence.
2. **Cas9 Enzyme**: The Cas9 protein, guided by the gRNA, locates and binds to the target DNA sequence.
3. **DNA Cutting and Repair**: The Cas9 enzyme cuts the DNA, and the cell’s repair mechanisms either introduce mutations (non-homologous end joining) or allow for precise edits using a supplied DNA template (homology-directed repair).

Gene editing has vast potential in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology, enabling the development of treatments for genetic disorders, the creation of genetically modified organisms, and advancements in research.