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HEREDITAS(Beijing) ›› 2016, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (5): 391-401.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.15-329

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

High-throughput functional screening using CRISPR/Cas9 system

Gancheng Wang1, MingMa1, Yanzhen Ye1, Jianzhong Xi1, 2, 3   

  1. 1. Department of Biomedicine, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
    2. State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
    3. State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
  • Received:2015-10-25 Revised:2016-01-21 Online:2016-05-20 Published:2016-02-24

Abstract: High-throughput screening, a powerful tool for the discovery of functionally important genes responsible for certain phenotypes, is performed according to loss-of-function or gain-of-function strategies. RNAi technology or knockout approaches have been widely used in high throughput screening due to their advantages of ease use, low cost and so on. However, imcomplete knockdown activity and off-target effect hindered their utility. More recently, CRISPR/Cas9 technology is becoming a robust tool for genome editing in diverse cells or animals, since it could generate a gene mutation in a target-specific manner. In this review, we first summarize the characterization of CRISPR/Cas9 and make comparison with traditional genetic tools, then describe recent achievements of genetic screen in several model organisms using CRISPR/Cas9, finally discuss on its future challenges and opportunities.

Key words: CRISPR/Cas9, genome editing technology, high-throughput, genetic screening