The field of genome editing has seen the emergence of several advanced tools, including Prime Editor, Base Editor, and Fanzor, all of which are remarkable technologies. They enable precise DNA modifications within the genome, holding immense potential for fields like scientific research, biomedicine, and agriculture.

Base Editor is an extension of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology, aimed to achieve precise editing of individual DNA base without the need of double-strand breaks and repair. It employs the Cas9 protein to target the region of the desired gene and combines it with a deaminase to achieve conversion. This technology allows for the conversion of one base to another, such as converting cytosine (C) to thymine (T). The advantage of Base Editor lies in its high precision, reducing unnecessary mutations and adverse effects, making it suitable for various gene-related research and applications.

Combining features of CRISPR-Cas9 and reverse transcriptase, Prime Editor enables more complex genome editing. can perform not only base substitutions but also insertions and deletions. Prime Editor uses RNA-guided Cas9 protein to target the region of the desired gene, while introducing reverse transcriptase to insert or delete the required sequence on the DNA strand. This widens the scope of editing and finds applications in research and treatment of numerous diseases.

Fanzor is a novel programmable RNA-guided DNA cleavage enzyme system discovered in eukaryotic organisms (discovered by a group of researchers led by Feng Zhang at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT). Similar to the CRISPR/Cas9 system, Fanzor employs RNA as a guide to precisely target specific locations within the genome and cleave DNA. Compared to CRISPR/Cas9, the Fanzor system is more compact, approximately 30% of the size of Cas9, making it easier to deliver into cells and tissues. Researchers have successfully isolated Fanzor proteins from eukaryotic organisms like fungi, plants, and animals, and they can be reprogrammed to edit the human cell genome. The discovery of the Fanzor system holds the potential to develop more precise and efficient genome editing tools, offering significant value in both scientific research and practical applications.