Cas12a

SHERLOCK vs. DETECTR: How Cas13 and Cas12a Power Two Different CRISPR Diagnostics

SHERLOCK and DETECTR are foundational CRISPR-based diagnostic platforms that differ in their core molecular machinery: SHERLOCK uses Cas13 for RNA detection, while DETECTR uses Cas12a for DNA detection. Both platforms employ collateral cleavage for signal generation, and understanding their specific enzyme, target, and readout differences is crucial for selecting the right tool for pathogen detection.