Single-Cell RNA Sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a groundbreaking technique that enables the analysis of gene expression at the individual cell level. Unlike traditional RNA sequencing, which averages the gene expression across a population of cells, scRNA-seq allows researchers to capture the unique transcriptomic profile of each cell. This is particularly important for understanding cellular heterogeneity in complex tissues, discovering rare cell types, and investigating cellular responses to various stimuli.
The process typically involves isolating single cells from a sample, converting their RNA into complementary DNA (cDNA), and then sequencing this cDNA to quantify the expression levels of genes. The resulting data can be analyzed using various bioinformatics tools to identify distinct cell populations, infer cellular states, and map developmental trajectories. Overall, scRNA-seq has revolutionized our approach to studying cellular function and diversity in health and disease.
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