# CRISPR–Cas13: Pioneering RNA Editing for Nucleic Acid Therapeutics

## TL;DR

CRISPR–Cas13 is a new tool for editing RNA, which can help treat diseases by targeting RNA without changing DNA.

## Contribution

This review highlights the novel use of CRISPR–Cas13 for RNA editing and its potential in developing nucleic acid therapeutics.

## Key findings

- CRISPR–Cas13 targets RNA, avoiding genomic instability seen with DNA-targeting CRISPR.
- It can suppress disease-causing genes and correct splicing errors.
- Challenges include improving specificity and delivery methods for clinical use.

## Abstract

The CRISPR–Cas13 system has emerged as a revolutionary tool for RNA editing, offering new opportunities for the development of nucleic acid therapeutics. Unlike DNA-targeting CRISPR–Cas9, Cas13 targets and cleaves RNA, enabling gene silencing and preventing genomic instability. Its applications include suppressing disease-causing genes, correcting splicing errors, and modulating immune responses. Despite these advances, challenges persist, such as the need to refine specificity, mitigate off-target impacts, and ensure effective delivery. This review provides an overview of the CRISPR–Cas13 mechanism, elucidating its role in RNA-targeted therapies and its transformative potential for disease treatment. Furthermore, it addresses the ongoing challenges that the scientific community is striving to overcome.