Single-cell omics: Overview, analysis, and application in biomedical science

J Cell Biochem. 2021 Nov;122(11):1571-1578. doi: 10.1002/jcb.30134. Epub 2021 Aug 30.

Abstract

Single-cell sequencing methods provide the highest resolution insight into cellular heterogeneity. Owing to their rapid growth and decreasing cost, they are now widely accessible to scientists worldwide. Single-cell technologies enable analysis of a large number of cells, making them powerful tools to characterise rare cell types and refine our understanding of diverse cell states. Moreover, single-cell application in biomedical sciences helps to unravel mechanisms related to disease pathogenesis and outcome. In this Viewpoint, we briefly describe existing single-cell methods (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and mulitomics), comment on available analysis tools, and give examples of method applications in the biomedical field.

Keywords: bioinformatics; epigenomics; genomics; haematology; multiomics; proteomics; single-cell methods; transcriptomics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Computational Biology / methods*
  • DNA Methylation
  • Epigenomics / methods
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Genomics / instrumentation
  • Genomics / methods
  • Humans
  • Precision Medicine
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods*