Researchers at UC San Diego have created the first genome-scale reference map of gene function in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Using CRISPR technology, they systematically silenced nearly 12,000 genes and tracked the effects across millions of cells. The open-access atlas could supercharge disease modeling, drug discovery, and AI-powered genetic research.
Researchers at UC San Diego have built the first genome-scale reference map detailing what individual genes do inside human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) — adult cells reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state that can become virtually any cell type in the body. Published in Nature Biotechnology, the map fills a major knowledge gap, since the functions of most human genes within these cells were previously unknown.
To create it, the team used CRISPR to systematically switch off 11,692 genes one by one, then measured the ripple effects across more than 2.5 million individual cells. By grouping genes based on shared molecular traits, they uncovered hidden metabolic and self-renewal regulators — including DBR1, newly identified as the master regulator of a key RNA editing process.
The open-access atlas is designed to act as a "hypothesis engine," letting scientists look up gene functions and build research directions without having to run every experiment from scratch — potentially accelerating work on disease modeling, personalized therapies, and AI tools for predicting how genetics shapes biology.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: This reference map could dramatically cut the time and cost of stem cell research, giving scientists a ready-made starting point for understanding gene function — and opening new doors for building virtual disease models and designing patient-specific treatments.
