Zinc-finger Nucleases: Powerful Tools for Gene Targeting

Zinc-finger nucleases are emerging as very effective tools for manipulating gene sequences. They have been used successfully in experimental organisms, in crop plants and in human cells, where they promise to enhance gene therapy. Thanks to tremendous advances in DNA sequencing technology, we now know the complete genome sequences of many organisms, including several humans. For a number of reasons, scientists might not be satisfied with knowing a sequence, but would like to be able to change it in very specific ways. In experimental organisms, this would allow detailed exploration of gene function and the production of laboratory models of specific human diseases. In the case of the human genome, one can imagine combating inherited disease by restoring the normal gene sequence.