Single-Cell Genomics

Abstract

AbstractSingle-cell sequencing is the process for examination of the sequence information from individual cells with the help of appropriate next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. The advantages of single-cell sequencing are that it provides a better resolution of cellular differences and a detail understanding of the function of an individual cell with respect to its microenvironment. Certain limitations associated with single-cell genomics involves degradation, sample loss and contamination, uneven coverage, noise, and erroneous quantification of sequencing data due to picogram quantities of samples used. It is effective in studying heterogeneous samples, rare cell types, analysis of microorganisms that cannot be cultured, cell lineage relationships, evolution of diseases, relationship among cell lineages, and mosaicism of somatic tissue. The current chapter discusses the single-cell sequencing technologies for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq), single-cell genome (DNA) sequencing, and single-cell DNA methylome sequencing- epigenetic study. Application for genomics include cancer, metagenomics, stem cells, developmental biology, immunology, neurobiology, drug discovery, reproductive health, microbial ecology and evolution, plant biology, and forensics and allele-specific gene expression. Various case studies of single-cell genomics for early maternal and fetal interface, for evolutionary and taxonomic studies, and for studying cancer genomics have been included.KeywordsSingle-cell sequencingSingle-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq)Single-cell genome (DNA) sequencingSingle-cell DNA methylome sequencing