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CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Mechanism Diagram

By FigPad · Updated Apr 22, 2026

A three-part figure showing how CRISPR-Cas9 works: the system components, target recognition and cleavage, and the two DNA repair outcomes.

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing mechanism diagram showing Cas9 domains, sgRNA, PAM recognition, R-loop formation, double-strand break and NHEJ versus HDR repair

What this figure shows

  • Cas9 protein with REC, HNH and RuvC-like nuclease domains
  • Single guide RNA with a 20-nt spacer and scaffold sequence
  • Target DNA with the 5′-NGG-3′ protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)
  • PAM recognition, R-loop formation and a double-strand break by the HNH and RuvC domains
  • Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) producing indels for gene knockout
  • Homology-directed repair (HDR) with a donor template for precise insertion or correction

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