Researchers used CRISPR to engineer nontraditional organisms for applied outcomes: a team edited spiders to produce red‑glowing silk, the first demonstration of fluorescent silk spun in vivo, and UC Davis scientists edited wheat to increase a root compound that recruits soil bacteria to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The spider work showcases gene editing’s reach into complex arthropod biology and biomaterials production, while the wheat edits aim to reduce fertilizer dependence by promoting microbial nitrogen fixation—an agriculture-scale application with potential environmental and economic impact. Both projects highlight expanding CRISPR utility beyond human therapeutics into materials science and sustainable agriculture.