100-word biography: | Dr. Yong Hou was trained as PhD in bioinformatics in Copenhagen University, and now works as President of BGI Group Europe and Africa. He is also an adjunct Research Scientist in The University of the Chinese Academy of Science. With a strong background of next generation sequencing and data analysis and interpretation, especially on single cell analysis and cancer research, he published more than 50 peer reviewed scientific papers on journals including Cell, Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Communications and listed as the co-inventor of more than 30 of patents in genomics area. He has granted more than 20 million RMB from national or local funding agencies to investigate the clinical application of next generation sequencing on cancer diagnosis. He is invited as guest editor for Journal of Clinical and Translational Medicine on Clinical Bioinformatics Session, and reviewer of Scientific Reports, BMC Bioinformatics and Cell Biology and Toxicology. |
Abstract: | High-throughput profiling of in situ gene expression represents a major advance towards the systematic understanding of tissue complexity. Applied with enough capture area and high sample throughput it will help to define the spatio-temporal dynamics of gene expression in tissues and organisms. Yet, current technologies have considerable bottlenecks that limit widespread application. Here, we have combined DNA nanoball (DNB) patterned array chips and in situ RNA capture to develop Stereo-seq (Spatio-Temporal Enhanced REsolution Omics-sequencing). This approach allows high sample throughput transcriptomic profiling of histological sections at unprecedented (nanoscale) resolution with areas expandable to centimeter scale, high sensitivity and homogenous capture rate. As proof of principle, we applied Stereo-seq to the adult mouse brain and sagittal sections of E11.5 and E16.5 mouse embryos. Thanks to its unique features and amenability to additional modifications, Stereo-seq can pave the way for the systematic spatially resolved-omics characterization of tissues and organisms. |