The genetic code in our DNA makes up the software that builds every living thing on this planet. Decoding it could lead to life-changing medicines and crops.

The powerful gene-editing technology CRISPR can snip and patch DNA with unprecedented precision. But it’s difficult to track how these changes impact a cell. Scientists analyze each edit one by one, a time-consuming process. UCLA researchers have tweaked the system, making it faster and more accurate.

1. Boosted Immunity

For years, scientists have been heralding the gene editing tool CRISPR as a revolution that will change biology. Like scissors and glue for the genome, it allows researchers to precisely snip and patch DNA. But this method can also cause a lot of unintended mutations. Some, researchers fear, could disrupt important cell functions or even lead to cancer. (One paper claiming this in 2017 briefly tanked the shares of Crispr-based medical companies.)

But now, a team at UCLA has tweaked the technology to let scientists monitor tens of thousands of edits simultaneously instead of one at a time, which can take weeks. Their work, published this week in Nature Genetics, should allow scientists to identify potentially harmful edits faster than ever before.

The technique capitalizes on a defense system employed by bacteria against viral attackers. When a virus invades, the bacteria use CRISPR to snip pieces of the invading DNA and then bind them with similar sequences to create what’s called a “CRISPR memory.” If the invader attacks again, the cell can recognize the match and destroy it.

UPenn immunotherapy researcher Joseph Fraietta and his colleagues used CRISPR to alter T cells from three patients with advanced cancer. They inserted into the cells genes that would knock out the expression of proteins known as PDCD1. These molecules act as brakes on the immune system, so if they’re turned off, more T cells will be recruited to battle the tumor.

The researchers then infused the cells back into the patient’s body. Kopp and Bartolome both went into remission after their treatment more than a year ago, raising hopes that this approach can beat stubborn diseases like leukemia. But, as NPR reports, the research remains in its early stages and may take many more years to determine if it’s safe and effective for longer-term use.

3. Weight Loss

Scientists have hailed CRISPR-Cas9 as revolutionary because it’s like scissors and a glue stick for the genome, but a new study has found it can sometimes cause unintended mutations. While most of these errors are minor, they can lead to diseases like cancer or even death. This week a study published in the journal Nature showed that ordinary CRISPR “can induce mutations at sites that differ by as much as five nucleotides from those targeted,” which is to say, it can make changes in genes we didn’t want to change.

Fortunately, there’s a workaround. Researchers are using a modified version of the technology to amp up the activity of certain genes, which can have more desirable effects. Last year, for example, a team at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) used a technique called CRISPR activation (CRISPRi) to reverse genetic forms of severe obesity in mice by turning up the volume on the SIM1 and MC4R genes that regulate hunger and satiety. The mice had more controlled eating behavior and ended up weighing 40% less than their untreated counterparts.

Another approach uses adeno-associated virus to deliver the CRISPRi components directly to white fat cells, or adipocytes. Specifically, the scientists targeted a gene called FABP4, which is overactive in adipose tissue and contributes to weight gain and inflammation. After silencing the gene with CRISPRi, the mice weighed 20% less than their control counterparts and had lower levels of inflammatory markers in their blood.

As crispr biohacking results go, this one is particularly intriguing. But it’s important to note that the research is still preliminary and that these experiments are not suitable for human clinical trials, a process that could take years and cost millions of dollars.

4. More Energy

The gene-editing technology CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized genetic engineering and brought hope to millions of people with inherited diseases. But it’s not perfect: In some cases, the tool snips DNA where it doesn’t intend to, leading to errors that can be hard to fix.

CRISPR uses a scissor-like protein called Cas9 to cut DNA in cells. It’s guided by an RNA molecule that matches a sequence in the target DNA. Using the guide, scientists can insert new DNA or delete it, then use patches to cover up the cuts. This is how CRISPR is expected to help treat disease-causing mutations.

When used against viruses, the cutting process also disables the viroid’s genetic material. Bacteria then keeps that piece of DNA as an immunization against the virus, and a small part of it is assimilated into the cell’s own genetic code. The same technique can be used to silence genes in cells that eventually turn into a specific type of cell, for example neurons.

In the lab, CRISPR can be used to make stem cells for transplant into people who need organs or to create models of human development. Researchers can then test drugs in the cells and identify what happens. This will enable more accurate testing and quicker drug development, which could lead to a quicker path toward a clinical trial.

Gizmodo reached out to biotechnologist George Church, whose lab developed CRISPR-Cas9. He pointed us to a STAT News article that said his team is working on ways to edit DNA without breaking both the target and guide strands of the double helix—the way ordinary CRISPR does.

For now, a growing number of do-it-yourself (DIY) biohackers—who call themselves “genome tinkerers”—are experimenting with CRISPR on themselves. Zayner says that a few of his friends have started injecting themselves with myostatin, an enzyme that slows muscle growth, to see if it has a positive impact on their health and performance.

5. Better Memory

Imagine a world where Alzheimer’s fog lifts, and people reclaim lost memories. This isn’t just a far-off dream, but a future that could be within reach. Scientists have discovered a revolutionary gene-editing tool that can cut, edit, and potentially correct genes linked to brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and ALS.

This genetic Swiss Army knife works by cutting DNA with a precise and powerful enzyme called CRISPR-Cas9. It is based on a natural system found in bacteria to defend against viruses.

Scientists have now discovered a way to use this technology to edit RNA, the chemical cousin of DNA. Changing RNA is much easier than altering DNA, and can be more precisely targeted. MIT scientists used this technique to try to turn off a gene that raises the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by converting it into the benign version. They were able to do so in cells, but the research is early, and they can’t yet replicate it in animals.