Life Sciences · Lesson 03
CRISPR & Synthetic Biology Lab
CRISPR-Cas9 lets scientists cut DNA at a precise location and rewrite the genetic code. Design a guide RNA, target a gene, and watch your virtual bacteria glow — or resist antibiotics — depending on your edit.
How It Works
- Cas9 — molecular scissors guided to a specific DNA target
- Guide RNA — a 20-base sequence that matches the target gene
- PAM site — a short motif (NGG) that Cas9 requires to bind
- Repair — cell fixes the cut, often disabling (knockout) or inserting new code
Bacterial Genome Viewer
Design Your Guide RNA
Your guide RNA must match a sequence adjacent to a PAM site (NGG) to cut successfully.
GCACTGTTGGAAACGTCGAT. Type its complement (A↔T, C↔G).
1. Select Target Gene
Choose which gene to edit: luxA (bioluminescence) or ampR (antibiotic resistance). Each has different PAM sites and outcomes.
2. Design Guide RNA
Type a 20-nucleotide sequence that complements the target. The simulator highlights matches and warns of off-target sites.
3. Cas9 Cuts
If your guide matches a valid PAM-adjacent target, Cas9 creates a double-strand break. Watch the animation of the molecular scissors.
4. Observe the Result
The cell repairs the cut. A knockout disables the gene; an insertion adds new function. Check the petri dish to see if your bacteria glow.
Petri Dish — Result