Cell differentiation unravelled by single-cell RNA sequencing

Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Abstract

All of us originate from a single cell, known as the zygote. Nevertheless, we are made of thousands of cells with different functionalities and morphologies: a skin cell is not the same as a neuron, yet they share the same genetic information. It is during embryo development that, through multiple cell divisions, the zygote gives rise to each of the cell types present in the different organs of each organism. One main challenge of developmental biology is to understand how, when, and where lineage commitment to each cell type takes place.