Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

30 years of progress from positional cloning to precision genome editing

Thirty years ago, I had the privilege of launching Nature Genetics, the first spin-off journal bearing the famous Nature logo. Spurred on by the Human Genome Project, there were high hopes for the new journal and indeed the future of human genetics. But there was little expectation that we would launch a science publishing franchise of more than 30 sister journals — or be able to therapeutically rewrite the faulty genomes of patients. Here, I reflect on the humble beginnings of Nature Genetics and 30 years of progress in genetics.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: The launch of Nature Genetics.

Kevin Davies.

Fig. 2: To the next 30 years.

Kevin Davies.

References

  1. Jeffreys, A. J., Wilson, V. & Thein, S. L. Hypervariable ‘minisatellite’ regions in human DNA. Nature 314, 67–73 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hediger, M. A., Coady, M. J., Ikeda, T. S. & Wright, E. M. Expression cloning and cDNA sequencing of the Na+/glucose co-transporter. Nature 330, 379–381 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Davies, K. Nature, genetics and the Niven factor. Nat. Genet. 39, 805–806 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Goto, M., Rubenstein, M., Weber, J., Woods, K. & Drayna, D. Genetic linkage of Werner’s syndrome to five markers on chromosome 8. Nature 355, 735–738 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Collins, F. S. Positional cloning: let’s not call it reverse anymore. Nat. Genet. 1, 3–6 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Adams, M. D. et al. Sequence identification of 2,375 human brain genes. Nature 355, 632–634 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Editorial. Nature creates Nature Genetics. Nat. Genet. 1, 1–2 (1992).

  8. Nurk, S. et al. The complete sequence of a human genome. Science 376, 44–53 (2022).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Editorial. The joys of reverse biology. Nat. Genet. 4, 1–4 (1993).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wheeler, D. A. et al. The complete genome of an individual by massively parallel DNA sequencing. Nature 452, 872–876 (2008).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Urnov, F. D. et al. Highly efficient endogenous human gene correction using designed zinc-finger nucleases. Nature 435, 646–651 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Method of the Year 2011. Nat. Methods 9, 1 (2012).

  13. Jinek, M. et al. A programmable dual-RNA-guided DNA endonuclease in adaptive bacterial immunity. Science 337, 816–821 (2012).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Davies, K. & Jínek, M. The CRISPR-RNA World: an interview with Martin Jínek. CRISPR J. 3, 68–72 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Williamson, B. Gene therapy. Nature 298, 416–418 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Urnov, F. D. Genome editing BC (before CRISPR): Lasting lessons from the “Old Testament”. CRISPR J. 1, 34–46 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Davies, K. My CRISPR Book. CRISPR J. 3, 322–324 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Urnov, F. D. The Cas9 hammer—and sickle: a challenge for genome editors. CRISPR J. 4, 6–13 (2021).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Regalado, A. EXCLUSIVE: Chinese scientists are creating CRISPR babies. MIT Technology Review https://www.technologyreview.com/2018/11/25/138962/exclusive-chinese-scientists-are-creating-crispr-babies/ (2018).

  20. Regalado, A. China’s CRISPR babies: read exclusive excerpts from the unseen original research. MIT Technology Review https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/12/03/131752/chinas-crispr-babies-read-exclusive-excerpts-he-jiankui-paper/ (2019).

  21. Heritable Human Genome Editing (The National Academies Press, 2020).

  22. Brackett, N. F., Davis, B. W., Adli, M., Pomés, A. & Chapman, M. D. Evolutionary biology and gene editing of cat allergen, Fel d 1. CRISPR J. 5, 213–223 (2022).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Davies, K., Komor, A. C. & Gaudelli, N. M. The beginning of base editing: an interview with Alexis C. Komor and Nicole M. Gaudelli. CRISPR J. 2, 81–90 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin Davies.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

K.D. is the founding Executive Editor of The CRISPR Journal and GEN Biotechnology, published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Davies, K. 30 years of progress from positional cloning to precision genome editing. Nat Genet 54, 908–910 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01128-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01128-6

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma.

Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research