Dr. Metcalf from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has developed a novel method for genome editing in archaea utilizing the Cas9 system. This method utilizes Cas9 machinery with the native archaeal HDR mechanism to edit the genome with no off-target activity. This method can also be combined with archaeal NHEJ machinery to allow random mutagenesis at a location of interest. Notably these tools allow efficient genome editing in methanogenic species potentially leading to novel biogenic strategies for methane production.
