This image reveals a cellular universe mapped through multiplexed immunofluorescence staining. Each cell carries a distinct genetic perturbation introduced using CRISPR, turning the field of view into a living atlas of functional diversity. By combining pooled CRISPR screening with high-plex imaging, researchers capture how different genetic alterations reshape protein expression and cellular programs.

Part of a large-scale effort titled “Towards an in silico cell: charting functional cell maps using high-content genetic screens and machine learning models,” this work integrates optical pooled screening technology with innovative multiplexed imaging. The resulting dataset fuels the development of new machine learning models designed to decode biological pathway activities and molecular profiles directly from cellular images — advancing the vision of a computationally defined cell.