Investigating the heterogeneity of biology is difficult. Basic methods, such as the averaging of data, can hide variability. Even fairly advanced methods, such as bulk sequencing, may do the same.
As the “bulk” in bulk sequencing implies, it combines cells of varied types into a single sample for analysis, accomplishing another kind of averaging. Fortunately, investigations of biological heterogeneity are starting to take advantage of single-cell sequencing and spatial omics technologies. Indeed, biological heterogeneity has fewer places to hide now that these technologies can penetrate different “omes” such as the genome, the transcriptome, and the proteome.
There are even technologies that encompass multiple omes. Care must be taken, however, to ensure that biological heterogeneity won’t be missed simply because the technologies for probing it are overlooked or underused. Several such technologies are considered in this article.
Most are suitable for in-house deployment. Some may be more conveniently accessed via service providers. In either case, they can help investigators overthrow the tyranny of averages that reigns over so many fields in biology.
Before working on single cells, scientists must collect them. Some techniques separate cells with high pressure, and others use tags to enable the identification and extraction of specific cells. Scientists at LevitasBio in Menlo Park, CA, have developed a platform that uses a lighter touch.
The platform is called Le.
