# How CRISPR-Cas9 Uses RNA to Edit DNA > This patent describes the fundamental mechanism of using a two-part RNA system to guide the Cas9 protein to specific locations in DNA for precise editing. - **Patent:** US 10113167 - **Original title:** Methods and compositions for RNA-directed target DNA modification and for RNA-directed modulation of transcription - **Owner:** Universitaet Wien - **Granted:** 2018 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 49 - **Field:** biotech, gene_editing ## What it does The patent claims a system where two separate RNA molecules—a targeter-RNA and an activator-RNA—work together to guide a Cas9 protein to a specific spot on a DNA strand. The targeter-RNA contains a sequence that matches the target DNA, while the activator-RNA binds to the targeter-RNA to form a structure that the Cas9 protein recognizes. Once this complex is formed, it acts like a pair of molecular scissors, allowing scientists to cut or modify DNA at a precise, pre-selected location. This system is designed to be modular, meaning researchers can swap out the targeter-RNA to change which part of the genome is being edited. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover naturally occurring RNA complexes found in wild-type bacteria. - Does not cover single-guide RNA (sgRNA) designs where the two RNA components are covalently linked by a long loop of nucleotides. - Does not cover the Cas9 protein itself, but rather the specific RNA guide system used to direct it. - Does not cover methods of gene editing that do not utilize the Cas9 polypeptide. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in recognizing that the complex bacterial defense system could be simplified into a two-part, programmable RNA system that functions independently of other bacterial proteins. ## Real-world examples 1. CRISPR-based genome editing in laboratory cell cultures 2. Development of agricultural crops with enhanced traits 3. Research into gene-based therapies for genetic diseases ## Why it matters This patent is a cornerstone of the CRISPR-Cas9 revolution, providing the intellectual foundation for the programmable gene-editing technology that has transformed biological research. It is central to the ongoing global patent landscape regarding who owns the rights to the foundational CRISPR technology, impacting everything from agricultural biotech to potential human gene therapies. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How CRISPR-Cas9 Uses RNA to Edit DNA cover? This patent describes the fundamental mechanism of using a two-part RNA system to guide the Cas9 protein to specific locations in DNA for precise editing. ### Who owns patent US 10113167? Universitaet Wien owns this patent, granted in 2018. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on April 26, 2036, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10113167 cited by? This patent has been cited by 49 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent is a cornerstone of the CRISPR-Cas9 revolution, providing the intellectual foundation for the programmable gene-editing technology that has transformed biological research. It is central to the ongoing global patent landscape regarding who owns the rights to the foundational CRISPR technology, impacting everything from agricultural biotech to potential human gene therapies. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover naturally occurring RNA complexes found in wild-type bacteria. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10113167/methods-and-compositions-for-rna-directed-target-dna-modification-and-for-rna-directed-modulation-of-transcription **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10113167 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8697359/crispr-gene-editing) — This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms. - [How to Precisely Edit Genes Using Retron-Guide RNA Cassettes](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20230383290/high-throughput-precision-genome-editing) — This patent describes a method for highly efficient and precise genome editing using a retron-guide RNA cassette to deliver large pieces of donor DNA into a cell's genetic material. - [Highly Efficient Bacterial Gene Editing Using Guide RNA and Reverse Transcriptase](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20180127759/dynamic-genome-engineering) — This patent describes a system for precisely editing the DNA of bacterial cells with very high success rates, using a combination of guide RNA, reverse transcriptase, and specific DNA sequences. - [How Modified RNA Tricks Cells Into Making Proteins Without Triggering Attacks](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8278036/rna-containing-modified-nucleosides-and-methods-of-use-thereof) — A breakthrough method for using modified RNA to deliver instructions to cells without causing the body to reject the treatment as a foreign invader. - [Delivering Large Gene Editing Tools into Cells with Hybrid Virus-Lipid Packages](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12350368/delivery-of-large-payloads) — This patent describes a sophisticated delivery system that combines parts of a virus with a fat bubble (liposome) to efficiently transport large molecules, like CRISPR gene-editing components, into specific cells.