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Faulty mitochondria cause deadly diseases: fixing them is about to get a lot easier

CRISPR-based tools can’t easily access the DNA in these organelles, but researchers are finding other ways in.
By
  1. Gemma Conroy

    1. Gemma Conroy is a freelance science journalist based in Mexico City.

A cartoon showing a large mitochondrion with scientists trying to access it using different methods, to get to the circles of DNA within.

Illustration: David Parkins

CRISPR gene editing has made its way into every corner of modern biology, but not into every corner of the cell. Although researchers have used these systems to develop treatments for sickle-cell anaemia and blood cancers, to unlock the secrets of multicellularity and to discover the role of thousands of overlooked proteins, there’s one place CRISPR can’t easily reach: mitochondria.

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Nature 646, 530-532 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03307-x

Updates & Corrections

  • Clarification 12 November 2025: This story has been amended to name Liang Chen’s primary affiliation.

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