Microgenomics 2021: Flow cytometry & single-cell transcriptomics
Channel: The International Symposium on Microgenomics 2023
Date: 2022-01-25

Vladimir Benes (European Molecular Biology Laboratory): "Flow cytometry and single-cell transcriptomics: much more than a marriage of convenience"

A methodological possibility to analyse transcriptomes of individual cells, natural principal units of form and function in living organisms, has become an important drive enabling a dramatic increase of our knowledge on functional principles governing their existence. It also provides us with an unprecedented insight into the previously under-appreciated large spectrum of cell types, their states as well as their heterogeneity. However, this on its own represents one of the largest obstacles of the methodology itself as it is becoming increasingly apparent that different cells respond differently to implemented experimental approaches. Although the principal workflow is established, its steps will vary depending upon the specimen of interest and will not be always identical among experimental systems. Therefore – in order to obtain meaningful results - it is necessary to pay an utmost attention to the performance and efficiency of all individual steps of the complex workflow. Ultimately, collectively we should be more concerned by what we are not ‘seeing’ as it inherently reduces our understanding of biological systems we are studying.