The lives of cells, recorded Review


Authors: Askary, A.; Chen, W.; Choi, J.; Du, L. Y.; Elowitz, M. B.; Gagnon, J. A.; Schier, A. F.; Seidel, S.; Shendure, J.; Stadler, T.; Tran, M.
Review Title: The lives of cells, recorded
Abstract: A paradigm for biology is emerging in which cells can be genetically programmed to write their histories into their own genomes. These records can subsequently be read, and the cellular histories reconstructed, which for each cell could include a record of its lineage relationships, extrinsic influences, internal states and physical locations, over time. DNA recording has the potential to transform the way that we study developmental and disease processes. Recent advances in genome engineering are driving the development of systems for DNA recording, and meanwhile single-cell and spatial omics technologies increasingly enable the recovery of the recorded information. Combined with advances in computational and phylogenetic inference algorithms, the DNA recording paradigm is beginning to bear fruit. In this Perspective, we explore the rationale and technical basis of DNA recording, what aspects of cellular biology might be recorded and how, and the types of discovery that we anticipate this paradigm will enable. Recent advances in genome engineering are enabling the recording of cellular histories into genomes, with single-cell and spatial omics technologies enabling their reconstruction into cellular lineages, states and exposures. This Perspective explores the rationale and technical basis of DNA recording, what aspects of cellular biology can be recorded and how, and the types of discovery that DNA recording will enable when studying development and disease.
Keywords: in-vivo; neural crest; genomic dna; fluorescent proteins; stem-cells; t-cells; site-specific recombination; lineage analysis; clonal dynamics; human artificial chromosome
Journal Title: Nature Reviews Genetics
Volume: 26
Issue: 3
ISSN: 1471-0056
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2025-03-01
Start Page: 203
End Page: 222
Language: English
ACCESSION: WOS:001362625900001
DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00788-w
PROVIDER: wos
PUBMED: 39587306
Notes: Source: Wos
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  1. Jun Hong Choi
    4 Choi