Emerging genome editing technologies continue to improve specificity in nucleotide modification without double-strand breaks. Recent developments include the evolution of cytosine base editors with enhanced precision through directed evolution of nucleic-acid-recognition hotspots, as published in Nature Biotechnology. Additional advances extend to natural CRISPR delivery mechanisms and RNA-programmable editing platforms like TIGR arrays explored by Feng Zhang’s laboratory, broadening the therapeutic footprint of gene editing for human health.