Watchmaker Genomics secured a non‑exclusive license to foundational CRISPR‑Cas9 intellectual property from Caribou Biosciences to use the nuclease as a programmable binding tool for next‑generation sequencing (NGS) library normalization. The company plans to apply CRISPR guides to stoichiometrically bind and normalize sequencing‑ready libraries without destructive processing. Watchmaker said the approach addresses normalization bottlenecks that limit throughput and that the method integrates with existing adapters and workflows. The firm also plans to adapt CRISPR for a PCR‑free whole‑genome sequencing method—recently patented by Watchmaker—to reduce DNA input and simplify large‑scale genomics use cases such as newborn screening and population studies. The license signals growing cross‑pollination between gene‑editing platforms and sequencing workflows, with potential operational benefits for high‑throughput genomics providers.