CRISPR vs STITCHR: Comprehensive Review on Base Editing, Prime Editing, and Therapeutic Applications

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and its associated proteins have revolutionized modern biology. Originally discovered as an adaptive immune system in prokaryotes, CRISPR–Cas technologies have evolved into highly versatile genome-editing tools. The development of base editing and prime editing has extended the precision and scope of genetic modifications, avoiding double-strand breaks and allowing correction of pathogenic mutations at single-nucleotide resolution. Complementary computational platforms such as STITCHR provide systems-level insights into protein–chemical interactions, supporting rational therapeutic development and drug repurposing. This review summarizes the historical development of CRISPR, its molecular mechanisms, generational advancements, and innovations in delivery systems. We further examine clinical applications across oncology, liver, cardiovascular, and hematological disorders, highlight CRISPR-based diagnostics, and discuss integration with bioinformatics platforms including STITCHR. Ethical, social, and regulatory considerations are critically analyzed in the context of somatic and germline editing. Finally, we discuss future prospects where CRISPR and computational systems biology converge to advance precision medicine. This review comprehensively evaluates CRISPR and STITCHR, providing perspectives on their transformative potential in genetic engineering and therapeutics.