Editorial: CRISPR-aided bioengineering for value-added product development

Since its discovery and development, CRISPR technology has revolutionized biology with the possibility of editing the genome of organisms from any kingdom of life (Wang and Doudna, 2023). The technology allows for editing multiple targets in one shot, base editing at single nucleotide resolution, selectively activating or repressing gene expression, and modifying the epigenetic landscape, considered impossible or difficult to achieve previously. This wave of CRISPR technology has reached bioengineering and synthetic biology with the promise of rapid and multiplexed cellular engineering, generation of gene variants, screening for certain functions or traits, selective modulation of metabolism, and easy and fast removal of competitive pathways. A myriad of fields of biology, from the medical sector to agriculture and industrial biotechnology, are embracing this tool, leading to rapid development and discovery, and a vast CRISPR-based market is supposed to surpass 15.84 billion USD by 2028 (Bloomberg, 2022).Clinical applications, such as treating diseases or finding novel drug targets, gained momentum with the first government approval of CRISPR-based treatment for sickle-cell disease and β-thalassaemia in the UK (Wong, 2023), as did the development of new diagnostics tools. Industrial biotechnology and agriculture immensely benefit from this technology for the development and optimization of highly productive bacteria, yeasts, algae, filamentous fungi, and crops. With the advent of CRISPR tools and a decade-long development (Wang and Doudna, 2023), it’s a timely topic to discuss recent advancements. The nine articles in this Research Topic cover the latest progress in the development and application of CRISPR tools in sustainability and biomanufacturing, diagnostics and drug development, and fundamental tools.