Spatial Transcriptomics - Infographic

Spatial Transcriptomics is one of the hot topics in biology research. These techniques allow us to have the most realistic picture to date of how cells function and interact in their native context. Our organs are very complex tissues, composed of many different cell types. So far, our understanding was limited to studying cells all together after making a tissue-smoothie (bulk techniques) or by pulling apart the tissue cell-by-cell and studying them separately (single-cell sequencing technologies). However, our cells are not isolated; in the same way you (probably) have some neighbour where you live, our cells interact with their environment and with the cells around them (they really do! they talk about stress and about their jobs). Considering we are composed of these very social structural and functional elements, it would make more sense to study them within their context right? This is exactly what spatial technologies enable.

For this infographic, I have selected some of them, based on the technologies available at the KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO). However, this field is blooming at thunder-speeds and new techniques and developments come out constantly. Are you interested? -> https://lisco.kuleuven.be/