title: Connecting genotypes, phenotypes and fitness: harnessing the power of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.
abstract: One of the fundamental goals in evolution and ecology is to identify the genetic basis of adaptive phenotypes. Unfortunately, progress towards this goal has been hampered by a lack of genetic tools available for nonmodel organisms. The exciting new development of the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated nuclease 9) genome-editing system now promises to transform the field of molecular ecology by providing a versatile toolkit for manipulating the genome of a wide variety of organisms. Here, we review the numerous applications of this groundbreaking technology and provide a practical guide to the creation of genetic knockouts, transgenics and other related forms of gene manipulation in nonmodel organisms. We also specifically discuss the potential uses of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in ecological and evolutionary studies, which will further advance the field towards the long-standing goal of connecting genotypes, phenotypes and fitness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO, 80918, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO, 80918, USA.
authors.forename: Eugenia C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Olesnicky
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 301 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL, 35899, USA.|HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, 601 Genome Way, Huntsville, AL, 35806, USA.
authors.forename: Luciano M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Matzkin
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D064113:CRISPR-Cas Systems; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D056084:Genetic Fitness; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D005838:Genotype; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D010641:Phenotype
keywords: RNA interference; genetic manipulation; genetics of adaptation; reverse genetics