Understanding CRISPR-Cas9

This video is a deep-dive into CRISPR-Cas9, but it takes the time to explain terms and concepts carefully, so that students who are new to the topic will understand it, and those who already understand what CRISPR is, but have unanswered questions will find the depth of answers they are looking for.
Now that VCAA have intimated that they expect students to have more than a superficial knowledge and understanding of CRISPR (for example they have to know about PAM sequences), many of the videos and websites I'd once have recommended are no longer sufficient because they leave out details in an effort to make the concepts easy to grasp. Others which do include details are unassailable to students because of the prerequisite knowledge and terminology they assume.
That's why I made this video. It goes deep (really deep, actually), but I hope that stepping through it slowly, and explaining terminology as we go will make it a valuable resource for students really wanting to understand.
It covers both the way that bacteria use CRISPR-Cas9 as an adaptive immune system, and the way it can be used for gene editing by molecular biologists. It also answers lots of the questions that people have when learning about CRISPR-Cas9, such as:
- is there a difference between gRNA and sgRNA? (and what is the difference between crRNA and gRNA?, or between cr:tracrRNA and gRNA?)
- how does Cas9 differentiate between 'self' and 'non-self'
- why doesn't Cas9 cut the spacer in the bacterial CRISPR array?
- why don't Cas1-Cas2 make spacers out of the bacterial DNA?
- how is Cas9 used to 'knock out' a gene.
- how is Cas9 used to insert a gene at a specific location using the cells DNA-repair machinery.
etc.

[@brandonmansfield6918]

Man! You are one heck of a great teacher. If we could all shrink ourselves and see everything in our cells and shrink even smaller to see the mechanisms DNA uses, you would be the perfect tour guide because you explain things that well.

[@andrewdouch]

That's a very creative way to say 'thank you'. You're welcome! - thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@og_philip97]

I totally agree I am currently learning about CRISPR-Cas9 at Uni and you have been way better than my professors. Thank you.

[@andrewdouch]

haha that sounds like a fun job!

[@hawks19_65]

@@andrewdouch hey andrew i must say you are the best at explaining these complicated concepts. In fact I have a sac on wednesday based on this and manipulation techniques and you have helped me understand all these and i feel like i’m more confident because of you. Thank you so much

[@daisytoromanzano8865]

@@andrewdouchIs CRISPR-CAS9 used in covid vaccines?

[@hanspozo8563]

As you said, your video really fills the gap between those simple videos for the "common people" and those, who are made from experts for experts. Thank you!

[@Hanking-Yo-Schrader]

Sir, I was so lost in CRISPR and didn’t know where to start and where to go. This is hands down tue best video on the topic. You went sufficiently into depth while keeping everything clear and concise. I would really appreciate next a detailed video on Prime Editing similar to this one, and comparing the 2 strategies, and talking about the problems with CRISPR such as high indel ratio, etc. Keep up the good work!

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@austintao8763]

This is really an amazing video! Thank you so much for taking your time carefully preparing and making this video!!

[@msf7291]

Most excellent! Thank you. This is the best explanation of this topic I have had yet.

[@ytmadhavan]

Great teaching, Andrew. Thank you for helping me understand the CRISPR concept.

[@alanlee960]

This is awesome and professional. Thank you for explaining those concepts deeply and thoroughly

[@user-ld6nf6mr6o]

You really gave the intuition to the whole CRISPR -Cas9 thing and cured the questions that were bugging me before , now its clear to a very good extent. Very grateful for this

[@sebastianderien5823]

I am speechless. I think with a teacher like you, biology would have been on the top of my preferred classes. I wish you all the best.

[@andrewdouch]

So nice of you

[@helenapetrou7]

Thanks for such a detailed and engaging explanation Andrew! Has helped me so much

[@Wideelf]

This video actually saved me! You are the only reason I'm making it through year 12 biology 🤣🤣

[@carlosmaldonado967]

Amazing video! It is hard to find such specific information and detailed animations and explanations of these concepts. Invaluable! Subscribed.

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@zackkykada567]

the video served it purpose, thanks a lot mr andrew .

[@ArthurCampos-lk7qs]

What an amazing biologist, your enthusiasm is very contagious

[@vic7181vic]

Wow! The greatest video ever! In every regard, it was the best. Very deep and very understandable. Thank you so very much. Please teach us more!

[@vipikuttu7383]

One of the best, explanation for CRISPR, hats off 🥰❤️

[@ukistoki5376]

Thank you so much, the video was so helpfull! It is actually the most informative and detailed explanation I have found. Its amazing how u deeply understand all the process step by step without skipping any crucial information. Im so glad I found your channel. You're doing an amazing job

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mansidalal7926]

OMG! What a full-package video of animation & theory both. Very nicely described, Never thought this topic will be a cakewalk for me. Thanks a lot for making this.

[@andrewdouch]

you're welcome :D

[@s_tsering]

I am glad and thankful that this video exists.

[@andrewdouch]

thank you! I'm glad you liked it

[@cryptapocalypse]

Andrew- outstanding presentation. I had some molecular biology training, but rarely if ever received instruction in the methodical and organized manner you use here. Thanks very much for taking the time to do this.

[@andrewdouch]

You're welcome :)

[@HannatIsmail]

I have read many articles and protocols and this is the only resource I have come across so far that explained in great detail! Thank you!

[@andrewdouch]

You're welcome :D I'm glad it helped

[@DanCasciano]

Thank you for that very understandable description of the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Your explanation and your graphics are super.

[@andrewdouch]

Glad you like them!

[@ghassanhaddad5446]

you literally saved my life! you explained this really detailed and simple at the same time. it was really really helpful. thank you sm!

[@andrewdouch]

You're very welcome!

[@lucasvandijk1615]

1 video that contains everything I needed to know with the best animations ever, amazing wow. I would pay for this

[@andrewdouch]

you're welcome - glad you liked it. (those animations took me ages to make so I'm really glad you found them helpful)

[@doraobodo5011]

This was amazing and you are an amazing teacher! I am a new FAN!

[@sarahkribben1521]

Wow! that was awesome! Took me about 90 Minutes to work and write through this video, but I can‘t imagine anyone is doing a better job explaining this than you! Thank you so much! Definitely a new follower here 😊

[@andrewdouch]

Wow, thanks! Anyone who can listen to my voice for 90 minutes deserves a medal ;)

[@rodrigokuszek]

Wonderful way to explain everything in a bit more than 30 minutes. You are amazing Andrew! And thank you so much, I needed this

[@andrewdouch]

Thanks for the feedback - I'm really glad you found it useful.

[@davidliu3128]

This is the most splendid video on CRISPRCas9 system I have ever encountered. You have solved every question I have got on this topic! Thank you so much!

[@andrewdouch]

Glad you liked it! Cheers.

[@larshaji6117]

I have never seen an amazing explanation like this, u are a phenomenon

[@andrewdouch]

thanks for that :D

[@ansotica9531]

wow, what a great video. i've been looking for it for a long time and now there's finally one. without whiteboards, bad drawings, superficial subject matter and confusing slides. i'm studying biology and never understood the mechanism when my professor explained it. i then neglected it while studying. now i failed an exam repeatedly and have to go through the topic again. and you explained it so incredibly well, with all the details one needs to know, but not toooo detailed. thank you so much for that. i feel well prepared and hope there will be a question about CRISPR/Cas9 :)

[@andrewdouch]

You're welcome. I'm really happy to know it helped you! Good luck on the test.

[@PrettyPilatesPrincess]

This was an awesome video, and you are a very engaging teacher (much needed for a 30 minute biochem video and my short attention span!) Thanks for this great video :)

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@professorarshadmajid8475]

Excellent video - well presented. Easy to understand.

[@eshatambe3920]

Thank you so much for making this video. This video really serves its purpose and it helped me a lot to understand the concept of CRISPR and break repair mechanism in detail. I truly appreciate the time and effort you took to put this highly informative video. I would also like to request you make a similar kind of video on Next Generation Sequencing. I have seen a lot of videos on NGS but they are quite complicated. Thanks a lot.

[@Temitope_Lawal]

I'm glad I found your video. You're a blessing to all students Crispr-Cas9 has caused headache to including me.

[@andrewdouch]

Glad to help

[@sam.f3002]

great video mate, made me understand everything so easy when my teachers in uni couldn't... thanks!!!!

[@ting1654]

Thanks a lot! This video really helps me know better about CRISPR, and your teaching is fabulous!

[@andrewdouch]

You're very welcome!

[@TheBrandedAffiliate]

Amazing and in-depth, made it super simple and easy to understand, love you douchy

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it helped!

[@nuraziz1669]

The best crispr-explanation video 🎉

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@noimpactbeats2888]

Outstanding explanation. Going to start working in the lab next week, exploring the possibilities of CRISPR Cas 9 gene editing in patients with heart disease. Thank you for the refresh !

[@andrewdouch]

You're welcome. Cheers

[@samwaelarmoush2321]

This was incredibily helpful! I am writing a term paper on CRISPR-Cas9 and its use for curing genetic disease such as muscular dystrophy. I was reading many research papers but could not keep up with the terminology and the heap of knowledge in them. This video gave a great foundation and I feel far more confident in approaching research papers. The visuals and explanations were elegant and show just how intricate and incredible life is. Thank you!

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it helped you out :D

[@samstern1185]

I cannot stress enough how well you have explained this subject! Thank you very much!! Hats off to you, sir

[@andrewdouch]

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a kind comment. I'm so glad you found the video helpful 😀

[@snehalmurumkar4953]

Thank you soo much for making CRISPR-Cas9 understanding so easy!

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@whatzittuuyah7640]

our friend is a microbiology mmmajor(??), we've just had an interest in it since we were a kid, and she sent us this video. We were a *little* nervous at first that it'd be a hair beyond our understanding, but it came across all clear!! This stuff is so neat, it's never gonna stop being the coolest that chemistry taught itself programming by exploiting physics and now life exists. It's all so deeply intricate - an incredible dance of interlocking elements and systems, and it just!!! exists!!!! naturally!!!!! Anyways, this video is incredibly informative and effective at bridging that gap. Even for someone where the terminology isn't familiar, the explanation gets the idea across clearly and in detail such that an understanding is developed whether or not the particular vernacular sticks. Very well done!!

[@rehamhassan576]

Dr.Andrew, It is my first time to write a comment to express my gratitude for someone, really really thank you for this masterpiece !

[@andrewdouch]

you're welcome! I'm so glad you found it helpful :D

[@user-kw9ns2dm9k]

Amazing explanation, you are really scientist

[@sarayugopal9363]

For the first time understood the topic from the scratch to more than expected to know. Wonderful explanation

[@andrewdouch]

I'm so glad it helped you out

[@DanyMLGJJB]

best CRISPR education by far！

[@firstep1363]

HEY !!! YOU REALLY HELPED ME A LOT !!!! A TONS OF APPRECIATES FROM ME !!!😂 THANKS A LOT PROF !!!!

[@EliEriSak]

One of my favourite instructional videos. Already visited this one thrice for refresher of the nuances! Hope to see more such content. Thanks Andrew x

[@andrewdouch]

You're welcome! That's very kind of you

[@karimmunoz2422]

i finally understood how CRISPR-Cas9 works!!! thanks for making this video!

[@andrewdouch]

You're welcome!

[@zhangzhengyifan6117]

Thank you sir, the best video about cas9 i've ever seen

[@andrewdouch]

Glad you liked it!

[@markzart33]

That was a superb masterclass on CRISPR Cas-9, thank you so much for that.

[@andrewdouch]

You're welcome. Thanks for the kind words

[@dietsoda1093]

Incredible video, greatly increased my understanding, and your energy is contagious

[@andrewdouch]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mariociencia12]

OMG! I Finnaly understood not only CRISPR, but also homologous junction repair! Thank you very much!

[@andrewdouch]

You're really welcome :D I'm glad you understood!

[@raptorgamer9289]

Thank you for making this video! Now I have a much bigger understanding on how CRISPR works. You explain everything clearly and it was easy to follow along with what you were saying

[@andrewdouch]

Great to hear!

[@peterstevens3395]

The presentation is a perfect marriage between hitting all the key points, conciseness, proper elaboration, giving all the necessary details. Excellent job!

[@andrewdouch]

Thanks Peter - that's a nice review! :)

[@peterstevens3395]

You're welcome, Andrew! Keep up the good work.@@andrewdouch

[@christosgian.8399]

Superb video, excellent explanation and incredible pacing on the details!! Very much appreciated

[@andrewdouch]

Glad you liked it!

[@JenniferHort]

This was so helpful - I'm a clinician working through a clinical genomics qualification and this was just the right level for me!! You are an excellent teacher, thank you so much.

[@andrewdouch]

I'm so glad! - thanks for your comment it made me smile.

[@robertpawlsoky2910]

just great, your explanations are terrific !

[@andrewdouch]

Glad you think so!

[@dom6783]

best video on CRISPR - PERIOD

[@andrewdouch]

Thanks Dom :)

[@gershwinjoy7877]

A. finest video which explains the concepts well ( really struggled to find out about PAM and NGG,which is well detailed in this video Thanks ( also it helped me for my essay a lot )

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it helped you :)

[@KaliostroA]

Great explanation! Thank you

[@senatadesse7732]

Thank you 🙏🏾 a great lesson to understand CRISPR

[@naveedarshad9432]

Good Evening. I am also a teacher but your smile and such innocent communication, wonderful for me because students never get boring in such topic like crispr.

[@andrewdouch]

So nice of you

[@javiersanjuan296]

Amazing presentation! Thanks for all your time and effort!

[@andrewdouch]

I'm glad it payed off for you :)

[@airwolfcentral169]

Thank you very much. Year 12 unit 3/4 bio student was extremely helpful and well articulated! Underrated channel will recommend to other classmates!

[@andrewdouch]

Cheers for that. 👍🏼

[@user-pc2dm9ky7p]

OMG Thank you so much!! for CRISPR Cas-9, even though I read the powerpoint from the class, I still did not fully understand since it is very complicated and difficult mechanism to understand. Your video solved this problem, and I loved how you explain these step by step and those little details very clearly!!. It was so helpful for understand cas9 and even details of this process. Thank you!!!:)))))

[@andrewdouch]

You're very welcome!

[@carmenkerr1237]

Thank you so much! This was thorough and super well explained. I am an undergrad in biology and this was at the perfect level for my understanding. The animations were also a great help in visualization.

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@WanC9]

Thank you so much. This is the best explanation.

[@andrewdouch]

Glad you think so!

[@emmy.vosper]

My biology exam is on Friday, but im too excited to just watch Douchy all week so I can’t even feel stressed

[@andrewdouch]

haha - I hope the exam went well!

[@user-vn5pt7tu8n]

Thank youuuuuuuu. It's very useful. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@user-kf4mp5dm2g]

Thank you this great explaination, best video I ´ve seen sofar in the internet about this topic !!! Thanks :)

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ManuShoyo-en6zt]

i found a the best explanation for CRISPR , it's well explained sir thank you , I'm looking forward for more videos like this

[@jacekyle3131]

Watched 6 vids on this topic and this video just set everything crystal clear...I was interested in knowing crispr...but now i feel like i can explain crispr...thank u🎉❤

[@andrewdouch]

You're welcome! Thank you for the lovely comment 😊

[@JedHollisterGirl]

Wow thank you that is an excellent explanation

[@user-ko3ln9cc2z]

OMG this video, yes perfect, for my exam i needed to learn how this works and needed to learn a paper written by fellow classmates, i dont think they saw this video bc this explanation is a 1000x better more understandable! Thank you!

[@andrewdouch]

So glad you found it helpful to you.

[@gooddy9928]

Thanks a lot Sir. I'm feeling more confident about my seminar presentation because of you.

[@andrewdouch]

That's great - I hope the presentation went well 😊

[@clanastral117]

I LOVE this explanation 🤩 your amazing.

[@andrewdouch]

Thank you! 😃

[@robertjones9566]

Thank you thank you thank you for being and amazing teacher. Thank you for transforming complex information into something understandable.

[@andrewdouch]

You're welcome Robert. Thanks for kind words. I'm glad you found my video helpful.

[@sourabhslb4275]

Wow! What a presentation....best among all that I have watched.

[@andrewdouch]

Glad you liked it!

[@nurjiskhatoon1807]

Such a nice explanation....how much hardwork you have put in.....that's unbelievable such fastidious details....bravo for such a great hardwork....really appreciated

[@andrewdouch]

It's my pleasure

[@vibhavagarwal6042]

Amazing video Andrew! I have an assignment to give a presentation on CRISPR to my class and this video cleared the entire concept and made me confident enough to present it! Thank you! Also it is so heartening to see you enjoying teaching it, you almost seem like a kid who is about to see his Christmas presents haha...

[@andrewdouch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-yu4lz8ts4m]

You are a legend, thanks so much!

[@andrewdouch]

You're welcome!

[@francisco.enguita]

Amazing... I really appreciate your work. As a teacher, your videos were super-useful. Thanks

[@andrewdouch]

You're very welcome!

[@fatemastersleepy4197]

THANK YOU SO MUCH MAN YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW CONFUSED I'VE BEEN FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS ABOUT HOW THIS WORK, my exams are in 2 weeks and we didn't learn this properly in school < 3

[@fatemastersleepy4197]

Also, I do have a small question, won't the bacteriophage evolve over time to have chi sites making CRISPR-Cas9 ineffective?

[@andrewdouch]

@@fatemastersleepy4197 Great question. You’d think so, right?

[@MMP1]

Brilliant. You made it fun and easy to understand :)

[@andrewdouch]

Glad to hear that!

[@omarc4ut]

Wow, what a great explanation. Thank you very much for the information. Please keep up the good work. 👍🙏

[@andrewdouch]

Thank you! Will do!

[@jacqueshirschler3094]

Thank you. Thank you Andrew for your detailed and brilliant exposition of what actually takes place during homologous repair of dsDNA and insertion of foreign DNA through Cas9 CRISPR. I spent several hours looking at the schematics in books and articles and never could quite grasp how the homologous repair let alone DNA insertion occurred exactly. You are a superb teacher and I love the Brit accent.

[@andrewdouch]

Thanks Jacques. i'm glad you found it helpful. (btw my accent is Australian 😉)

[@katenicholls5301]

Thank you SO much for this class. It was super helpful. You are a wonderful teacher.

[@andrewdouch]

Thanks!

[@arcticwolf5041]

I passed my one of my honours tests because of you. Thank you so much. Great teacher!

[@andrewdouch]

That makes me happy to know! Glad I could help

[@dawbool9552]

As somebody of the general public just eager to understand the world around him and within himelf, I am very grateful for this going-to-more-depth video. After perusing this video at least three times and consulting some school textbooks for some basics, I was able for follow and understand. What an amazing and ingenious nano-world! And what an admirable and joyful manner of conveying knowledge! Chapeau!😊

[@andrewdouch]

Thanks for that. Glad you found it interesting:)

[@theone-zh5pt]

Thank you very much! Although I am a foreign English speaker, your explications were very easily understandable to me. (I am sorry for grammar mistakes) In school, I want to present a subject in genetics and CRISPR-Cas9 is quite amazing! Even though there is no explication in our biology book... Perhaps, if it´ll works, I will present CRISPR!! Thank you, finding some good explications on the internet is not easy but now I understand!!

[@andrewdouch]

You're very welcome!

[@brianmckittrick8665]

Andrew- thanks - for me you did in fact bridge the gap between not enough and too much detail. And yes it is fascinating.

[@andrewdouch]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@c.b.nikhil4876]

Excellent Andrew. I was thinking of doing something like this. But you have already done an exceptional job. 👍👍👍

[@andrewdouch]

Thanks! :)

[@brotosarirahayu5045]

this is really a new topic for me, thank you for explaining it so clearly

[@andrewdouch]

You're very welcome!

[@mariaangelika2829]

Thank you. it was exactly what I needed 🌹🌹

[@andrewdouch]

So glad!

[@michelangelofiorentino6301]

thank you very much, this is a super clear explanation of the process, super usefull.

[@andrewdouch]

You are welcome!

[@kristianrodd5809]

Very well explained. Thanks

[@confusedsoulps-gp6nt]

Really nice video. Also you are a great teacher!

[@andrewdouch]

Thanks :D

[@dhabyamajid1237]

This was amazing. Thank you.