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Perspectives on defining cell types in the brain.
- Source :
-
Current opinion in neurobiology [Curr Opin Neurobiol] 2019 Jun; Vol. 56, pp. 61-68. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Dec 06. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- The diversity of brain cell types was one of the earliest observations in modern neuroscience and continues to be one of the central concerns of current neuroscience research. Despite impressive recent progress, including single cell transcriptome and epigenome profiling as well as anatomical methods, we still lack a complete census or taxonomy of brain cell types. We argue this is due partly to the conceptual difficulty in defining a cell type. By considering the biological drivers of cell identity, such as networks of genes and gene regulatory elements, we propose a definition of cell type that emphasizes self-stabilizing regulation. We explore the predictions and hypotheses that arise from this definition. Integration of data from multiple modalities, including molecular profiling of genes and gene products, epigenetic landscape, cellular morphology, connectivity, and physiology, will be essential for a meaningful and broadly useful definition of brain cell types.<br /> (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Epigenomics
Gene Expression Profiling
Brain
Neurosciences
Transcriptome
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-6882
- Volume :
- 56
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Current opinion in neurobiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30530112
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2018.11.007