Researchers have utilized the neural networks of crabs to validate the use of RNA sequencing for the identification of single neurons.

A team of researchers, led by David Schulz (University of Missouri, MO, USA), have demonstrated the ‘clawsome’ power of RNA sequencing for the anatomical and functional identification of single neurons.

The use of RNA sequencing is widespread for the identification of cells in the nervous system. However, previous classification studies have been impeded by other features of the cells. This work aimed to validate the accuracy of single-cell transcriptional profiling for the identification of individual neurons.

Source:

Northcutt AJ, Kick DR, Otopalik AG et al. Molecular profiling of single neurons of known identity in two ganglia from the crab Cancer borealis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1911413116 (2019); https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/12/04/1911413116 https://news.missouri.edu/2019/think-like-a-crab/