The phenotypic landscape of essential human genes

Understanding the basis for cellular growth, proliferation, and function requires determining the contributions of essential genes to diverse cellular processes. Here, we combined pooled CRISPR/Cas9-based functional screening of 5,072 fitness-conferring genes in human cells with microscopy-based visualization of DNA, DNA damage, actin, and microtubules. Analysis of >31 million individual cells revealed measurable phenotypes for >90% of genes. Using multi-dimensional clustering based on hundreds of quantitative phenotypic parameters, we identified co-functional genes across diverse cellular activities, revealing novel gene functions and associations. Pooled live-cell screening of ∼450,000 cell division events for 239 genes further identified functional contributions to chromosome segregation. Our work creates a resource for the phenotypic analysis of core cellular processes and defines the functional landscape of essential human genes.

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