I helped develop sci-ATAC-seq (single-cell combinatorial indexing assay for transposase-accessible chromatin), a cutting-edge method for studying chromatin accessibility at the single-cell level. By identifying regions of open chromatin, it provides insights into how genes are regulated in different cell types and states.

 

The technique uses combinatorial indexing, a barcoding strategy that enables the simultaneous profiling of thousands of individual cells. After transposase treatment to tag accessible DNA regions, barcodes are added during sequential rounds of molecular tagging. This allows researchers to link chromatin accessibility data to individual cells without the need for physical separation.

 

sci-ATAC-seq is particularly powerful for exploring complex tissues, developmental processes, or disease states, as it reveals cell-to-cell variation in chromatin dynamics and gene regulation.