A CRISPR cheat sheet
Between choosing the right reagents and detecting changes at the genomic level, many factors need to be considered to create a well-designed CRISPR-Cas9 experiment. One of the most important considerations is the controls that will be included in the assay.
Whether this is a positive control to help achieve maximal gene editing, or a negative control to account for non-specific effects of a guide RNA on cells, each control has an important function. Don’t let your results get muddled by a lack of control data. This table will provide a brief explanation of the purpose of each, and help take the guess-work out of choosing the proper controls for your experiment.
If you still have questions or want to discuss the proper application of controls in gene editing experiments, please contact our technical support team.
Positive Control |
FunctionMonitor gene editing efficiency and optimize delivery conditions to achieve maximum potential editing |
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Non-targeting Control |
FunctionDistinguishes between cellular responses to the general presence of guide RNA and the effects of gene-specific guide RNA |
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Untransfected/Untransduced Control |
FunctionDetermine baseline cell viability and phenotype |
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HDR-specific Controls – HDR Plasmid/Oligo Donor Only |
FunctionControls for effects derived from the donor plasmid/oligo, including fluorescence |
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* Recommended especially for experiments dependent on phenotypic measurement, see: Doing CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing experiments? Here are your negative controls!