Outlook for genome engineering technologies. (A) Genome editing technologies can be used to incorporate genome-wide association study (GWAS)-identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) into models of complex diseases and to ascertain casual disease variants. (B) Human cells can be programmed using genome engineering to produce the next generation of advanced cell therapies. (C) Techniques designed to assess potential off-target activity of programmable nucleases and transcriptional/epigenetic modifiers will facilitate technology improvements. (D) Increased control of genome engineering tools can be achieved with chemical and optogenetic regulation to develop highly articulated systems with increased specificity and dynamic properties.
