Light‐controlled genome engineering based on the CRISPR system

Precise genome engineering is fundamental to understanding biological functions, unveiling regulatory networks, and developing therapeutic strategies for genetic diseases. While conventional gene regulation and editing approaches are widely used, they often lack the spatiotemporal resolution required to study dynamic processes within living cells. The emergence of light‐controlled Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) systems has revolutionized this field, providing non‐invasive, high‐resolution control over genomic and transcriptomic activities. By integrating the programmable DNA/RNA binding specificity of CRISPR systems with diverse optogenetic strategies, researchers can now regulate gene activity with unprecedented precision. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular principles underlying CRISPR‐based light‐controlled genome engineering techniques, evaluates their strengths and limitations, and discusses the future directions for the field.