CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly
interspaced short palindromic repeats – Cas9) is an
innovative technology that enables researchers to
interrogate the function of genes through precise editing
of genes. Researchers have recently utilized this
technology to assess the function of all genes in a system
using CRISPR-Cas9 screens. These screens are powerful
techniques that enable the unbiased interrogation of
gene function in various model systems and organisms.
These pooled screens employ a predefined set of genetic
perturbations called sgRNAs, which are introduced into
a pool of cells. This pool of cells, each with its own
genetic perturbation, is then grown in competition with
each other. After a period of competition, the effects of
each perturbation are assessed through the sequencebased counting of each specific mutation, or sgRNA.
CRISPR-Cas9 screens have revealed numerous
molecular pathways that may confer resistance or
sensitivity to various biological challenges. This review
will describe how these techniques have advanced our
understanding of colon cancer and demonstrate how
these screens can be modeled and optimized in silico
using computational simulation tools. It will further
describe how these screens have been applied to living
organisms and provide insight into how these may
advance our understanding of various biological
mechanisms and organ functions.
Keywords :
Biomedical and Health Science; Genetics and Molecular Biology of Disease; CRISPR; Pooled Genetic Screens; in Silico Simulation.