Patent ID: 8586363

Claim:
A method for modifying the genetic material of a cell, comprising: (a) providing a cell containing a target DNA sequence; and (b) introducing a first transcription activator-like (TAL) effector endonuclease monomer and a second TAL effector endonuclease monomer into the cell, each TAL effector endonuclease monomer comprising: (i) a FokI endonuclease domain, and (ii) a TAL effector domain comprising a plurality of TAL effector repeat sequences, wherein the plurality of TAL effector repeat sequences of the first TAL effector endonuclease monomer, in combination, bind to a first specific nucleotide sequence in the target DNA sequence, wherein the plurality of TAL effector repeat sequences of the second TAL effector endonuclease monomer, in combination, bind to a second specific nucleotide sequence in the target DNA sequence, and wherein the first specific nucleotide sequence and the second specific nucleotide sequence are different and are separated by a spacer sequence, such that the FokI endonuclease domain of the first TAL effector endonuclease monomer and the FokI endonuclease domain of the second TAL effector endonuclease monomer form a dimer that cleaves the target DNA sequence within the cell or progeny thereof when the TAL effector domain of the first TAL effector endonuclease monomer is bound to the first specific nucleotide sequence and the TAL effector domain of the second TAL effector endonuclease monomer is bound to the second specific nucleotide sequence.