CRISPR Genome Abbreviation

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats

CRISPR is a group of DNA sequences present in the genomes of bacteria and archaea, which are prokaryotic species. These sequences are generated from bacteriophage DNA pieces that infected the prokaryote earlier. During future infections, they are utilized to recognize and destroy DNA from related bacteriophages. As a result, these sequences serve an important role in prokaryotes' antiviral defense mechanism and offer a kind of acquired immunity. CRISPR is present in around half of all sequenced bacterial genomes and virtually all sequenced archaeal genomes.