Cited by 154Single-cell and spatial transcriptomicsDevelopmental Biology and Gene RegulationGene Regulatory Network Analysis

The evolving concept of cell identity in the single cell era

Morris, Samantha A.·2019·Development

Abstract

Fueled by recent advances in single cell biology, we are moving away from qualitative and undersampled assessments of cell identity, toward building quantitative, high-resolution cell atlases. However, it remains challenging to precisely define cell identity, leading to renewed debate surrounding this concept. Here, I present three pillars that I propose are central to the notion of cell identity: phenotype, lineage and state. I explore emerging technologies that are enabling the systematic and unbiased quantification of these properties, and outline how these efforts will enable the construction of a high-resolution, dynamic landscape of cell identity, potentially revealing its underlying molecular regulation to provide new opportunities for understanding and manipulating cell fate.

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Crossref · 10.1242/dev.169748

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63 of 63 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Cell type-specific gene expression changes associated with different cell states may be seen during circadian cycles, variable metabolic states, development, aging, or under behavioral, pharmacological or diseased conditions.

    “Cell type-specific gene expression changes associated with different cell states may be seen during circadian cycles, variable metabolic states, development, aging, or under behavioral, pharmacological or diseased conditions (Fig. 4) (Mayr et al., 2019; Morris, 2019).”

    From What is a cell type and how to define it? (2022) · cites this paper as Morris, 2019

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Authors
Morris, S. A.
Affiliations
Washington University in St. Louis (US)
Corresponding author
Morris, Samantha A.
Venue
Development
Published
2019-06-15
Volume
146
Issue
12
ISSN
  • 0950-1991 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9129
OpenAlex
W2953614989
Cited by
154
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 3
FWCI
6.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
Keywords
cell identity, single-cell biology, cell atlases, cell phenotype, cell lineage, cell states, cell fate
MeSH terms
Machine Learning, Animals, Cell Differentiation, Cell Biology, Golgi Apparatus, Humans, Models, Biological, Neurons, Phenotype, Genetic Variation, Caenorhabditis elegans, Cell Lineage, Epigenesis, Genetic, Mice, Single-Cell Analysis, CRISPR-Cas Systems

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