| abstract |
The present invention generally relates to imaging cells, for example, to determine phenotypes and/or genotypes in populations of cells. In some aspects, cells may be analyzed, e.g., imaged, to determine their phenotype, and their genotypes may be determined by exposing the cells to nucleic acid probes, e.g., as in smFISH, MERFISH, FISH, in situ hybridization, or other suitable techniques. In some cases, the cells may be exposed to a nucleic acid comprising an identification portion, which may be used to distinguish the cells from each other. In some embodiments, the cells may be exposed to a nucleic acid comprising an expression portion, e.g. a gene, or coding region for a non-translated RNA, etc., that when expressed, produces a protein, RNA, DNA, or the like that may alter the phenotype of the cell or the variable nucleic acid sequence can consist of promoters, gene regulatory elements, transcription factor binding sites, Cas9 guide RNA coding regions, etc. that otherwise alter the phenotype of the cell. In some embodiments, the modifications that contain either the identification portion, the expression portion, or both may be introduced into the genome of a host organism or as exogenous materials, e.g. plasmids. Such changes may involve the addition of synthetic materials, such as synthetic nucleic acids, or modifications, e.g. deletions or mutations, of the genomic material of the host organism. Other aspects are generally directed to compositions or devices for use in such methods, kits for use in such methods, or the like. |