Germline cells are important but extremely delicate plant, animal, and human cells whose genetic composition contains DNA from all of their generations. Now, these cells can be altered using the potent CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing method. The novel method focuses on the RNA-based expression of specific genes in germ cells. A recent study published in the journal Molecular Cell suggests that this molecular "CRISPR-on-a-chip" assay may even be useful against the relatively old retroviruses that cause cystic fibrosis in some individuals.

Though it should be made clear that this is not a method to try to treat genetic illnesses, it is nonetheless an amazing breakthrough.