title: CRISPR Technology Reveals RAD(51)-ical Mechanisms of Repair in Roundworms: An Educational Primer for Use with "Promotion of Homologous Recombination by SWS-1 in Complex with RAD-51 Paralogs in Caenorhabditis elegans".
abstract: The mechanisms cells use to maintain genetic fidelity via DNA repair and the accuracy of these processes have garnered interest from scientists engaged in basic research to clinicians seeking improved treatment for cancer patients. Despite the continued advances, many details of DNA repair are still incompletely understood. In addition, the inherent complexity of DNA repair processes, even at the most fundamental level, makes it a challenging topic. This primer is meant to assist both educators and students in using a recent paper, "Promotion of homologous recombination by SWS-1 in complex with RAD-51 paralogs in Caenorhabditis elegans," to understand mechanisms of DNA repair. The goals of this primer are to highlight and clarify several key techniques utilized, with special emphasis on the clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats technique and the ways in which it has revolutionized genetics research, as well as to provide questions for deeper in-class discussion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601.
authors.forename: Carolyn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Turcotte
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601.
authors.forename: Nicolas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601.
authors.forename: Solomon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sloat
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12601 paula.checchi@marist.edu.
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Checchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064113:CRISPR-Cas Systems; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004260:DNA Repair; D005823:Genetics / Q000193:education*; D059765:Homologous Recombination; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase; C495148:rad-51 protein, C elegans
keywords: Caenorhabditis elegans; RAD51; double-strand breaks (DSBs); homologous recombination; meiosis