Multi-cellular organisms develop from a single cell that undergoes many stages of proliferation and differentiation that result in the vast array of progenitor and terminal cell types. While dogma defines development as a series of discrete steps, it is actually a continuous process, characterized by transitional stages and intermediate cell types that have yet to be described. We propose reframing development in terms of branching trajectories: We will develop computational algorithms that use high dimensional single cell data to map each individual cell into a lineage tree representing the chronological order of development. Rather than grouping cells into nodes of this tree (cell types), single cells will fill in the branches in a continuum ordered according to their developmental chronology. Thus, each branch is a developmental trajectory that represents all the transitional stages between cell states. In essence, combining single cell technologies with sophisticated computation will empower us to do for Homo sapiens what John Sulston and colleagues did for C. elegans-to construct a complete and detailed map of normal development. This map will provide both a full catalog of all cell types in our body, as well as the developmental relations between them. The detailed resolution of the resulting map will empower developmental studies, help elucidate how and where development is derailed in disease, and guide the next generation of regenerative medicine.
We want to develop methods that will enable the construction of complete atlas that maps out in full detail how our bodies develop from a single embryonic cell. This atlas will become an invaluable reference for the progression of many cancers, as well as developmental disorders such as Rett syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorders and autoimmunity. In addition, the tools we will develop and the insights gleaned from these tools could play a crucial role in advanced therapeutic applications of regenerative medicine.
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