尽管人类已经发现并应用ZFN、TALEN基因编辑技术来实现对基因的定向改变，但由于操作复杂、成本较高，一直限制着基因组学的研究进展。基因的低成本、高效率、操作简单的编辑技术一直是生物分子领域亟待解决的问题。2013年《科学》（Science）杂志上两篇有关CRISPR/Cas的报道标志着基因编辑技术取得了重大突破。CRISPR是从细菌、古菌基因组中发现特殊的DNA重复序列家族。目前，该技术已经成功应用于水稻、斑马鱼、小鼠等动植物中，实现了对特定基因的定向修饰。简要介绍CRISPR/Cas的发现历史、组成、作用原理和最新研究进展，对该技术在玉米研究中的应用进行展望。

Although ZFN and TALEN have been discovered and applied in gene editing, both of the two technologies are complex operation and high cost, which have restricted the progress of genomics research. Therefore, the low cost, high efficiency, and simple editing technology has been an urgent problem in molecular biology. Under that circumstance, two reports about CRISPR/Cas in "Sciences" make a breakthrough in this field in 2013. CRISPR is a special DNA repeat family found in the genomes of bacteria and archaea. And at present, the technology has been successfully applied to the rice, zebrafish, mouse and other animals and plants, to achieve a targeted modification of specific genes. In this paper, the discovery history, composition, function and the newest discovery of CRISPR/Cas were briefly introduced, and prospects for the application of this technology in maize research.

国家玉米产业技术体系项目（CAR02-01）