Parse Biosciences, a provider of accessible and scalable single cell sequencing solutions, has announced the launch of CRISPR Detect, a tool that enables single cell pooled CRISPR screens on an unprecedented scale.

This solution from the Seattle-based life sciences company marks a significant advancement in understanding gene function at a genome scale by combining individual gene perturbations with comprehensive whole transcriptome expression phenotypes.

Bulk pooled CRISPR screening has long been recognized as a valuable technique for studying gene function. However, the addition of single cell resolution to pooled CRISPR screens revolutionizes the field, allowing for the pairing of individual gene perturbations with detailed whole transcriptome expression profiles. This approach expands the capabilities of pooled CRISPR screening, enabling a deeper understanding of cell types affected by perturbed genes and providing valuable insights into changes in gene expression, regulatory networks, signaling pathways, and complex biological signatures.

Previously, the applications and scale of single cell CRISPR screens were limited by the throughput and cost of droplet-based single cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology. However, with the introduction of CRISPR Detect, Parse Biosciences is bringing the scale of its existing Evercode technology to single cell CRISPR screening.

Users can now combine perturbations and transcriptional profiles in up to one million cells within a single experiment, significantly expanding the possibilities for single cell CRISPR screening. This breakthrough has particular implications for drug discovery, where cost considerations have traditionally limited the use of single cell CRISPR screens to targeted validation studies.

In addition to the launch of CRISPR Detect, Parse Biosciences is announcing the broad availability of Unique Dual Indexes (UDIs) for all Evercode products. UDIs play a critical role in improving sequencing data quality and enable more efficient analysis of Evercode sequencing libraries when combined.

The introduction of CRISPR Detect and the availability of UDIs demonstrate Parse Biosciences’ commitment to driving innovation in the field of single cell sequencing. By providing accessible and scalable solutions, Parse Biosciences is empowering researchers to delve deeper into gene function and accelerate discoveries in various domains, including drug development and personalized medicine.

Charlie Roco — Parse Biosciences Chief Technology Officer said: “We are thrilled to provide CRISPR Detect to the single cell community.

“We are particularly excited about the responses from our early access customers around enabling genome scale screens and the potential to expand the usage of single cell CRISPR screening in drug discovery.”

  Charlie Roco, CRISPR Detect, Parse Biosciences, USA