Understanding Biology at Cellular Resolution
Biological tissues are made of diverse populations of cells. Each cell can have a different identity, molecular state, location, and function.
Cell mapping brings these dimensions together to create a more detailed view of how cells are organized and how they contribute to biological systems.
From individual cell profiles to tissue-wide maps, cellular mapping combines technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, single-cell multi-omics, imaging, and computational biology.
Understanding Cellular Identity
The first step in cellular mapping is determining which cells are present and distinguishing between different cellular populations.
Single-cell RNA sequencing allows researchers to examine gene expression at the level of individual cells. Molecular profiles can then be used to characterize different cell types and cellular states.
Understanding Cellular Identity
The first step in cellular mapping is determining which cells are present and distinguishing between different cellular populations.
Single-cell RNA sequencing allows researchers to examine gene expression at the level of individual cells. Molecular profiles can then be used to characterize different cell types and cellular states.
Cellular information can include:
Cell type
Gene expression profile
Molecular state
Cell-type markers
Cellular heterogeneity
Rare cell populations.
Understanding Cellular States and Dynamics
Cells are not static. Their molecular profiles can change in response to development, disease, environmental signals, treatment, or changes in their surrounding tissue.
Single-cell and multi-omic approaches allow researchers to examine these changes and identify distinct cellular states, transitions, and patterns of cellular activity.
Cellular dynamics can include:
- Cellular states and activation
- Developmental trajectories
- Cell-state transitions
- Responses to treatment
- Disease-associated changes
- Changes in gene regulation
Understanding Spatial Organization
The second step in cellular mapping is determining where cells are located and how they are organized within tissues.
Understanding Cellular Interactions
The third step in cellular mapping is determining how cells interact and communicate within their biological environment.
Cell-cell communication analysis can help researchers investigate signaling between cellular populations and understand how individual cells contribute to larger biological systems. Cellular interaction information can include:
- Cell-cell communication
- Ligand-receptor interactions
- Signaling pathways
- Cellular neighborhoods
- Immune cell interactions
- Tissue-level interaction
EXPLORE STUDIES
This study demonstrates how single-cell transcriptomics can characterize cell types across multiple human organs. The study is openly available through PMC.
This study combines scRNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, in situ sequencing, and imaging to create a spatial atlas of human skin and basal cell carcinoma. It is open access.
This study investigate ligand–receptor interactions and cell–cell communication networks across tissues and disease states.