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Guide RNA
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<p>Guide RNA (gRNA) or single guide RNA (sgRNA) is a short sequence of <a href="/facts/RNA/HxPeNfNj">RNA</a> that functions as a guide for the <a href="/facts/Cas9/gDhwlw7I">Cas9</a>-endonuclease or other Cas-proteins that cut the double-stranded <a href="/facts/DNA/nB89Iauz">DNA</a> and thereby can be used for gene editing. In bacteria and <a href="/facts/Archaea/Adxh0aHw">archaea</a>, gRNAs are a part of the <a href="/facts/CRISPR/VqRDofqC">CRISPR</a>-Cas system that serves as an adaptive immune defense that protects the organism from viruses. Here the short gRNAs serve as detectors of foreign DNA and direct the Cas-enzymes that degrades the foreign nucleic acid. </p>