CRISPR is often described as molecular scissors, which is close enough: a guide sequence finds a matching stretch of DNA and an enzyme cuts it. The hard part was never the cut — it is delivering the tool to the right cells.
Where it already works
Blood disorders are the success story, because cells can be edited outside the body and returned. Approved sickle-cell therapies follow exactly this route.
The delivery problem
Reaching the brain, lungs or a solid tumour in a living body remains the bottleneck. Most current research is about vectors, not about editing accuracy.
Off-target edits
Modern base and prime editing cut unintended changes dramatically, but long-term monitoring is still the standard of care and will be for years.
