Chip (IMAGE) University of California - Berkeley Caption To harness CRISPR's gene-targeting ability, the researchers took a deactivated Cas9 protein -- a variant of Cas9 that can find a specific location on DNA, but doesn't cut it -- and tethered it to transistors made of graphene. When the CRISPR complex finds the spot on the DNA that it is targeting, it binds to it and triggers a change in the electrical conductance of the graphene, which, in turn, changes the electrical characteristics of the transistor. Credit Keck Graduate Institute Usage Restrictions with credit License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.