Decoding disease-relevant variants with base and prime editors at scale
Mar. 24, 2026
Prof. Wensheng Wei published a review in Trends in Biochemical Sciences.
Interpreting variants of uncertain significance remains a central challenge in human genomics. Base and prime editors have launched a new era of precision functional genomics, enabling programmable, double-strand break-free introduction of point mutations and small indels directly within the genome. Here, we review the technological evolution of these editors and their transformative application in high-throughput functional screens. We highlight how base and prime editing platforms systematically annotate clinical variants, reveal mechanisms of drug resistance and immune evasion, and dissect fundamental biological processes at single-nucleotide resolution. Crucially, we address current challenges and future perspectives for precision editing screens. By enabling causal genotype-to-phenotype mapping, precision editing screens are redefining genomic variation interpretation and accelerating its translation into precision diagnostics and therapeutics.
Original link: https://www.cell.com/trends/biochemical-sciences/abstract/S0968-0004(26)00029-0