Why is Single Cell Sequencing Important in Cancer Research?
Cancer is characterized by considerable heterogeneity at the cellular level. Traditional bulk sequencing methods average out the genetic information from a mixture of cells, potentially masking critical differences between individual cells. Single cell sequencing helps to:
Identify rare cell populations that may contribute to tumor progression or resistance to therapy. Understand the clonal evolution of tumors by tracking genetic mutations over time. Discover potential biomarkers for diagnosis and targeted therapy. Elucidate the tumor microenvironment and its interactions with cancer cells.
