# A quick squeeze helps CRISPR turn skin cells into neurons more efficiently

- Source: Phys.org
- Published: 2026-10-23T13:20:09+00:00
- Category: Science
- Original: https://phys.org/news/2026-10-quick-crispr-skin-cells-neurons.html
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/a-quick-squeeze-helps-crispr-turn-skin-cells-into-neurons-more-efficie-2cec6f/

Human cells hold about two meters (6.6 feet) of DNA, folded and compacted to fit inside a nucleus. That packing is essential for life, but it creates a problem for scientists. Some of the genes that control a cell's identity are buried so deep in tightly packed DNA that gene-targeting tools such as CRISPR activation, or CRISPRa, struggle to reach them.

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