Application of Arrayed CRISPR/cas9 Screen and its Data Analysis: A Systematic Review

CRISPR has become a hot research area ever since its advent for its efficiency and specificity in editing almost every section of DNA sequences. Based on its function of gene perturbation, a variety of gene editing techniques have been developed to achieve different aims. The target locations of a DNA strain can be precisely broken and repaired, during which the genes can be removed, repaired, silenced, or activated. The high efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 reagents preparation and the easiness of experiment conduction make it now a powerful tool of high-content screen. In a CRISPR mediated screen, the reagents targeting different genes can be transferred and cultured together as a pool or separately in arrayed microwells. With the development of new synthesis methods which deceases the cost of guide RNA library preparation, arrayed CRIPSR screen is becoming more feasible and is believed to play more important role in a varies of biological research areas for its gene editing specificity and variable phenotype measurements. So far, there are a number of experiments designed in arrayed strategy, however, to the best of our knowledge, there is not a review on these experiments and their data analysis methods. Thus, we designed this systematic review and performed meta-analysis for these studies. In this paper we review the research area, study design, method of transfer of guide RNAs, final measurement of readouts and data analysis methods.