Advances in Off-Target Detection for CRISPR-Based Genome Editing

Abstract

The CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)-based genome editing system exhibits marked potential for both gene editing and gene therapy, and its continuous improvement contributes to its great clinical potential. However, the largest hindrance to its application in clinical practice is the presence of off-target effects (OTEs). Thus, in addition to continuous optimization of the CRISPR system to reduce and eventually eliminate OTEs, further development of unbiased genome-wide detection of OTEs is key for its successful clinical application. This paper summarizes detection strategies for off-target effects of different CRISPR systems, in order to provide detailed guidance for the detection of OTEs in CRISPR-based genome editing.