Download or read book CRISPR-Cas Systems written by Rodolphe Barrangou and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-13 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: CRISPR/Cas is a recently described defense system that protects bacteria and archaea against invasion by mobile genetic elements such as viruses and plasmids. A wide spectrum of distinct CRISPR/Cas systems has been identified in at least half of the available prokaryotic genomes. On-going structural and functional analyses have resulted in a far greater insight into the functions and possible applications of these systems, although many secrets remain to be discovered. In this book, experts summarize the state of the art in this exciting field.