Watchmaker Genomics Licenses CRISPR-Cas9 for NGS Library Prep & PCR-Free WGS

Boulder company leverages CRISPR technology to improve DNA sequencing workflows.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Watchmaker Genomics, a Colorado-based genomics company, has licensed foundational CRISPR-Cas9 intellectual property from Caribou Biosciences. This move signals a shift in the application of CRISPR technology, as Watchmaker aims to utilize it as a precise binding tool to address a critical bottleneck in DNA sequencing: library normalization. The company's innovation leverages the programmable nature of CRISPR-Cas9 to bind to specific adapter sequences on DNA fragments, enabling non-destructive standardization of library inputs and preserving the integrity of genetic material. Watchmaker is also developing a complete PCR-free whole genome sequencing (WGS) solution using this CRISPR-Cas9 strategy.

Why it matters

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized genomic research, but the process isn't without its challenges. As sequencing throughput increases, library normalization has become a significant hurdle, with traditional methods relying on time-consuming, variable, and difficult-to-automate quantification and dilution processes. Watchmaker's CRISPR-Cas9 approach offers a precise, non-destructive solution to this normalization bottleneck, potentially improving sequencing efficiency, data quality, and accessibility for a wide range of genomic research applications.

The details

Watchmaker's innovation utilizes the programmable nature of CRISPR-Cas9 to bind to specific adapter sequences on DNA fragments, allowing for a non-destructive standardization of library inputs. Unlike traditional methods, this process doesn't require the destruction or alteration of the DNA, enabling downstream flexibility like re-sequencing or workflow branching. The company is also developing a complete PCR-free whole genome sequencing (WGS) solution, as PCR amplification can introduce biases and errors. A PCR-free approach, enabled by precise normalization, promises to simplify operations, reduce DNA input requirements, and enhance sequencing efficiency for large-scale studies, including population genomics, newborn screening, and rare disease applications.

  • Watchmaker Genomics recently licensed foundational CRISPR-Cas9 intellectual property from Caribou Biosciences.
  • The company was recently granted a patent for its CRISPR-Cas9-based normalization technology.

The players

Watchmaker Genomics

A Colorado-based genomics company that is redefining the application of CRISPR technology, moving beyond its well-known genome editing capabilities to tackle a critical bottleneck in DNA sequencing: library normalization.

Caribou Biosciences

A biotechnology company that has licensed foundational CRISPR-Cas9 intellectual property to Watchmaker Genomics.

Brian Kudlow

The Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of Watchmaker Genomics.

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What they’re saying

“Normalization has quietly become a bottleneck as sequencing throughput has scaled.”

— Brian Kudlow, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder, Watchmaker Genomics (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

Watchmaker Genomics plans to further integrate its CRISPR-Cas9 technology with microfluidic devices and automated platforms to accelerate NGS workflows and enable high-throughput, precise, and reproducible library preparation.

The takeaway

Watchmaker Genomics' innovative use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to address the normalization bottleneck in DNA sequencing highlights the growing trend of repurposing established technologies for novel applications. As sequencing continues to expand in both research and clinical settings, improvements at the workflow level will be crucial for enhancing efficiency, data quality, and accessibility.