The Best CRISPR News Sources: Podcasts, Blogs, Journals, Twitter, and More

Introduction: Your Guide to the Best CRISPR News

We’ve compiled a list of the best ways to keep in touch with CRISPR, and provided a list of the best resources within each news source so you can choose from the best ones out there, and find your ideal source for CRISPR and genetic engineering news.

If you’re in need of new places to get all your updates on what’s going on in the world of CRISPR and genome engineering and enjoy constant updates so you can stay informed, these resources can help you. Whether you prefer detailed academic publications or brief Twitter updates, there’s something on this list for you.

CRISPR News from Science & Technology Websites

Though the information you get from popular websites like these is often abridged - and presented in a much simpler way than with academic sources - they are still useful for finding out how advancements in modern sciences like CRISPR affect average, everyday people.

CRISPR Medicine News

Based in Denmark, CRISPR Medicine News has established itself as a leading source of genetic engineering news. Their website contains feature articles based on interviews with genome engineering scientists about the latest research, webinars, a weekly newsletter, and a regularly updated list of CRISPR clinical trials.

STAT News

This publication focuses on the world of health and medicine - a field intertwined with CRISPR science. The get the latest medical publications, study results, and genetic news, check out STAT News.

WIRED

The most popular website in tech, WIRED posts news consistently, all day, and is sure to be one of the first news outlets to feature any story about CRISPR.

GEN (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News)

This website looks only at genetic engineering and biotech, so it’s riddled with CRISPR news on a daily basis.

Synthego: The Bench Blog

Our blog has everything you want to know about CRISPR: what’s going on lately, what has happened in CRISPR’s history, and interesting applications of CRISPR technology. Popular categories include “This Week in CRISPR”, our weekly roundup of the hottest CRISPR news, and “Researcher Spotlight”, which highlights the brilliant scientists doing amazing things with CRISPR technology.

Benchling

Though its main purpose is an electronic laboratory notebook, the Benchling blog doesn’t shy away from giving you updates on the latest news in CRISPR. The blog is free to read, and all of its resources are completely free for academics!

Mammoth Biosciences Blog

This leading CRISPR company has a great blog, including interviews with leading scientists, disease spotlight articles, discussions of CRISPR methods, and applications of the technology.

Addgene blog

The Addgene website is bursting with CRISPR resources, including an excellent blog, along with other helpful genome editing resources. There’s something for every stage of your CRISPR journey here.

Innovative Genomics Institute

The IGI has a comprehensive website full of educational content about genomics and genetic engineering. From understanding CRISPR basics to the latest news, IGI has you covered. You can even do a virtual tour of a CRISPR lab or order a CRISPR kit for classroom use!

Popular Science

Exactly as it sounds, this site looks at “popular science” - meaning it will take more complex concepts and communicate them to the general public, in a way the average person could understand.

CRISPR Classroom

This website offers online courses for students as well as opportunities for educators to get involved. They also produce a semi-regular newsletter called Not Boring Science, which keeps subscribers up to date with recent progress in genetic engineering technology, cell and gene therapy research, companies, and trials.

CRISPeR Frenzy

With a wide range of topic categories from basic research to medicine and everything in between, this website provides all the news and views you need on CRISPR technology and its manifold applications.

Podcasts: Listen To Your CRISPR News On The Go

Podcasts are one of the best ways to keep in touch with what’s going on with any topic, as most are released weekly, and in the science world, often focus on science news and updates. If you want the scoop on what’s going on with CRISPR, check out these best podcasts that often cover CRISPR topics.

CRISPR Cuts

This is our very own podcast in which we host experts in the field of CRISPR science to help understand how CRISPR works, what the latest news is, what the future applications of genome editing are, and how they will change the world.

Radiolab

This is one of the most well-known and detailed overviews of CRISPR science that exists in a podcast. If you want to catch up on what has happened, check out this Radiolab episode.

60-Second Science

This podcast is a weekly blast on the most significant science news. CRISPR often makes the headlines - so if you want a quick fix (literally under 3 minutes per episode), this is a great place to get quick science news.

Science Friday

Science Friday (also known as SciFri) with host Ira Flatow is one of the most popular podcasts in America. In this weekly episode, take an in-depth look at this past week’s science news, reviewing 3-4 relevant topics - including, of course, CRISPR when it makes the news.

Science Weekly

Like 60-Second Science, this podcast looks at the past week in science news, but episodes are much longer, and therefore, much more detailed. Coming from The Guardian media online, learn about science from a journalistic perspective to see what recent science will mean for our future.

Curiosity

This daily podcast covers a wide range of topics, including CRISPR, to help you get smarter. Each episode is only a few minutes long, allowing you to learn something new every day without getting in the way of everything else going on in your crazy life!

Quirks & Quarks

This award-winning show coming to you from CBC has been on (the web, and the radio) since 1975. Like Science Friday, it takes prominent science news from the previous week and examines them in detail with individual segments.

Naked Genetics

This news-based podcast focuses specifically on the world of DNA science - which means its very likely to feature a segment on CRISPR news. If you’re only in it for the genetics of it all - this is the podcast for you.

Talking Biotech

This podcast aims to provide an evidence-based discussion about crop modification, biotech agriculture, plant and animal domestication, breeding, and everything genetic engineering and genetic “improvement”-related.

DNA Today

This podcast has an interview style, talking to prolific genetic engineering figures, including researchers, genetic counselors, and advocates of genetic engineering. To learn who’s who in the industry, this is your podcast.

Genetics Unzipped

This podcast from the Genetics Society covers all aspects of genetics, including evolution and development, health, ethics, and genetic engineering. There is also an associated blog for each episode.

GuidePost

Hosted by Kevin Davies, Ph.D., this podcast from The CRISPR Journal features some incredible interviews with CRISPR pioneers and researchers, including Emmanuelle Charpentier, Francisco Mojica, Virginijus Siksnys, and David Liu.

Want more? Check out this even more detailed list of the best CRISPR podcasts for some bonus CRISPR podcast episodes.

Twitter: The Best Way To Get Genetics News and Updates in Real-Time

Twitter might not be the most reliable source of information, but it’s certainly the fastest! When any new update is released, more often than not, it comes out on Twitter first. If you want quick updates about the newest CRISPR developments, then Twitter is the right source of news for you.

These are the best channels to follow on Twitter to get CRISPR-Cas9 news:

@NatureBiotech & @NatureGenet

Nature, the well-known academic journal on biology, has established an incredible online presence in the past few years - especially on Twitter. Both of these Twitter accounts will announce and link to any applicable CRISPR news.

@CRISPR_News

This Twitter profile aims to post updates about the newest developments in CRISPR - and posts all day long! If you want the latest news, this is probably the best profile to get it from.

@SynBioBeta

This Twitter page represents a community of any entrepreneurs and innovators in the field of Synthetic Biology, and therefore, keeps its followers up-to-date on the latest CRISPR news.

@Synthego

Our own Twitter channel is jam-packed with the most recent CRISPR updates, what’s going on with other companies and organizations, and to help you learn about our CRISPR kits, which are providing scientists with the tools they need to be successful in the field of CRISPR.

@GeneTherapy_SN

From the academic journal of the same name, this Twitter account posts and retweets all the latest news and publications in the gene therapy field.

@CrisprInvestors

This Twitter account is definitely one to follow if you’re interested in news on CRISPR companies and therapies for investment purposes. They post daily updates on how major CRISPR companies are performing on the stock market.

@CrisprPlatform

Another great account to follow for regular updates on exciting CRISPR developments and innovation.

If you want to learn about more Twitter profiles that can help you stay in touch with what’s going on in CRISPR, this article on the top 10 CRISPR accounts to follow on Twitter can help!

Science News in Online News Journals

Typical news outlets aren’t exclusively focussed on CRISPR, but rather, the late-breaking news that is relevant to everyone. Here are some news organizations that have dedicated science journalists, and for whom CRISPR frequently makes an appearance.

MIT Technology Review

This journal is well-known in the science world for bringing you an educational review of the latest tech news in the world, from experienced, talented journalists who focus entirely on the world of science and technology.

Scientific American

One of America’s oldest science traditions (first issue printed in 1845), this magazine has had notable contributors including Albert Einstein. Still in print today (online) this magazine and archive takes the recent advances in science and technology and explains how they are changing the world.

The Atlantic

A well-known general news outlet, The Atlantic has always had a passion for commenting on hot topics of the day and providing a perspective on how news is affecting Americans. They don’t shy away from science and technology and have dedicated science journalists and communicators on staff.

BBC News

One of the world’s biggest news productions, BBC puts effort into individualizing its news - using science journalists to present its science news and presenting it across a number of platforms, including TV, the Internet, podcasts, and more.

The New York Times

With its worldwide influence, the New York Times doesn’t forget to feature breaking science and technology news. You’ll find the biggest stories in CRISPR news reported on by the NYT.

Undark Magazine

A non-profit digital magazine, Undark explores science and society. They have a range of articles and opinion pieces covering various CRISPR applications and public perception of gene-editing technology. Don’t just stop at CRISPR, though - they cover all types of interesting science.

NPR

NPR is an excellent source for science and health-related news, featuring many articles on the therapeutic use of CRISPR technology. They’ve interviewed many of the first patients to receive CRISPR therapies, including for the treatment of sickle cell disease and Leber’s congenital amaurosis.