# CRISPR diagnostics: find a sequence, light a signal

> A test-strip graphical abstract of CRISPR diagnostics. A sample is amplified at one temperature, a Cas enzyme guided by its crRNA recognises the target sequence and then cuts reporter molecules at random — Cas12 cuts single-stranded DNA (DETECTR), Cas13 cuts RNA (SHERLOCK) — and the freed reporter is read as fluorescence or as a line on a lateral-flow strip, in well under an hour.

- Page: https://www.labcanvas.com/templates/graphical-abstracts/crispr-diagnostics-find-sequence-light-signal
- Open in the LabCanvas editor (LabCanvas account): https://www.labcanvas.com/editor.html?template=crispr-diagnostics
- Updated: 2026-10-14
- Category: Graphical abstracts
- Method: Graphical abstract
- Starting materials: A sample with a few copies of a target DNA or RNA sequence
- Product: A yes/no (or quantitative) readout: fluorescence or a test line on a strip
- Key result: Attomolar sensitivity and single-base specificity (Gootenberg et al. 2017; Chen et al. 2018); input as low as 2 aM, four-plex, lateral flow (Gootenberg et al. 2018); SARS-CoV-2 in 30–40 min, 95% / 100% agreement with RT-PCR (Broughton et al. 2020)
- Figure: 1920 × 1080 px, 95 editable layers (1 generated objects with settings)

## Steps

1. **Amplify**: Isothermal amplification — RPA plus T7 transcription (SHERLOCK) or RT-LAMP at 62 °C for 20–30 min (DETECTR) — needs no thermocycler (Gootenberg et al. 2017; Broughton et al. 2020)
2. **Recognise**: The Cas enzyme, guided by its crRNA, binds the target: Cas12a a DNA target, Cas13a an RNA target (Chen et al. 2018; Gootenberg et al. 2017)
3. **Cut reporters**: Once activated it cuts nearby reporters indiscriminately — single-stranded DNA for Cas12a, RNA for Cas13a — freeing a quenched fluorophore (collateral cleavage)
4. **Read**: Fluorescence appears in < 1 min; on a lateral-flow strip uncleaved FAM–biotin reporter stays at the control line and cleavage gives a test line in ~2 min; Cas12 step 37 °C, 10 min (Broughton et al. 2020)

## Uses

- Graphical abstracts on CRISPR-based diagnostics
- Talks on point-of-care nucleic-acid testing
- Teaching collateral (trans) cleavage and reporter readouts

## References

1. Gootenberg et al., “Nucleic acid detection with CRISPR-Cas13a/C2c2”, Science 2017. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aam9321 (method origin)
2. Chen et al., “CRISPR-Cas12a target binding unleashes indiscriminate single-stranded DNase activity”, Science 2018. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar6245 (primary)
3. Gootenberg et al., “Multiplexed and portable nucleic acid detection platform with Cas13, Cas12a, and Csm6”, Science 2018. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0179 (primary)
4. Broughton et al., “CRISPR-Cas12-based detection of SARS-CoV-2”, Nat. Biotechnol. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-020-0513-4 (primary)

Credit: Drawn by LabCanvas after Gootenberg et al., Science 2017 (doi:10.1126/science.aam9321) and 2018 (doi:10.1126/science.aaq0179); Chen et al., Science 2018 (doi:10.1126/science.aar6245); and Broughton et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 2020 (doi:10.1038/s41587-020-0513-4).

## Questions

**What does the “CRISPR diagnostics: find a sequence, light a signal” template show?** A test-strip graphical abstract of CRISPR diagnostics. A sample is amplified at one temperature, a Cas enzyme guided by its crRNA recognises the target sequence and then cuts reporter molecules at random — Cas12 cuts single-stranded DNA (DETECTR), Cas13 cuts RNA (SHERLOCK) — and the freed reporter is read as fluorescence or as a line on a lateral-flow strip, in well under an hour.

**What are the steps shown in “CRISPR diagnostics: find a sequence, light a signal”?** 1. Amplify: Isothermal amplification — RPA plus T7 transcription (SHERLOCK) or RT-LAMP at 62 °C for 20–30 min (DETECTR) — needs no thermocycler (Gootenberg et al. 2017; Broughton et al. 2020). 2. Recognise: The Cas enzyme, guided by its crRNA, binds the target: Cas12a a DNA target, Cas13a an RNA target (Chen et al. 2018; Gootenberg et al. 2017). 3. Cut reporters: Once activated it cuts nearby reporters indiscriminately — single-stranded DNA for Cas12a, RNA for Cas13a — freeing a quenched fluorophore (collateral cleavage). 4. Read: Fluorescence appears in < 1 min; on a lateral-flow strip uncleaved FAM–biotin reporter stays at the control line and cleavage gives a test line in ~2 min; Cas12 step 37 °C, 10 min (Broughton et al. 2020).

**What are the starting materials and the product?** Starting materials: A sample with a few copies of a target DNA or RNA sequence. Product: A yes/no (or quantitative) readout: fluorescence or a test line on a strip.

**Which papers is “CRISPR diagnostics: find a sequence, light a signal” based on?** Gootenberg et al., “Nucleic acid detection with CRISPR-Cas13a/C2c2”, Science 2017 (doi:10.1126/science.aam9321); Chen et al., “CRISPR-Cas12a target binding unleashes indiscriminate single-stranded DNase activity”, Science 2018 (doi:10.1126/science.aar6245); Gootenberg et al., “Multiplexed and portable nucleic acid detection platform with Cas13, Cas12a, and Csm6”, Science 2018 (doi:10.1126/science.aaq0179); Broughton et al., “CRISPR-Cas12-based detection of SARS-CoV-2”, Nat. Biotechnol. 2020 (doi:10.1038/s41587-020-0513-4).

**Can I edit the “CRISPR diagnostics: find a sequence, light a signal” template?** Yes. Open it in the LabCanvas editor: all 95 layers are editable, including 1 generated objects (structures, plots, equipment) with their own settings. Change the text, colours and layout, then export PNG, TIFF, SVG or PDF.

**Do I need an account to use this template?** Not to view it here. To open and edit it, sign in to LabCanvas or create a free account (the free plan keeps up to 3 designs). Downloading the figure is part of LabCanvas Pro (US$19 a month or US$199 a year).