Dr. Francisco Mojica, from Alicante University (Spain) performed the first experiments ever reported on CRISPR, evidencing CRISPR-derived activity. In 2000, his research group identified similar sequences in disparate microorganisms and recognized them as constituents of a novel family of Short Regulatory Spaced Repeats (SRSR). Afterwards, Dr. Mojica renamed SRSR as CRISPR and, in 2005, his team reported that the CRISPR locus is part of a unique, adaptive immune system. Since then, a long list of scientists has contributed to describe the mechanism of CRISPR action. As a result of this effort, outstanding molecular biology tools have been developed from CRISPR elements, leading to the CRISPR technology, considered by many as the scientific discovery of the century. This unprecedented technology enables efficient, precise, feasible and affordable genetic manipulation of almost any cell type and organism, from bacteria to humans. Moreover, native CRISPR systems have been engineered to improve their performance in genome editing and repurposed for a plethora of in vitro and in vivo applications, such as transcriptional regulation, epigenetic modification or target labelling. In this session, Dr. Mojica will introduce us to CRISPR and we will also have the opportunity to learn how research institutions and the industry are using CRISPR-based tools to make the next scientific breakthrough.