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Predictive power of cell-to-cell variability

Publication ,  Journal Article
Li, B; You, L
Published in: Quantitative Biology
June 1, 2013

Much of our current knowledge of biology has been constructed based on population-average measurements. However, advances in single-cell analysis have demonstrated the omnipresent nature of cell-to-cell variability in any population. On one hand, tremendous efforts have been made to examine how such variability arises, how it is regulated by cellular networks, and how it can affect cell-fate decisions by single cells. On the other hand, recent studies suggest that the variability may carry valuable information that can facilitate the elucidation of underlying regulatory networks or the classification of cell states. To this end, a major challenge is determining what aspects of variability bear significant biological meaning. Addressing this challenge requires the development of new computational tools, in conjunction with appropriately chosen experimental platforms, to more effectively describe and interpret data on cell-cell variability. Here, we discuss examples of when population heterogeneity plays critical roles in determining biologically and clinically significant phenotypes, how it serves as a rich information source of regulatory mechanisms, and how we can extract such information to gain a deeper understanding of biological systems.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Quantitative Biology

DOI

EISSN

2095-4697

ISSN

2095-4689

Publication Date

June 1, 2013

Volume

1

Issue

2

Start / End Page

131 / 139

Related Subject Headings

  • 3102 Bioinformatics and computational biology
  • 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
 

Citation

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MLA
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Li, B., & You, L. (2013). Predictive power of cell-to-cell variability. Quantitative Biology, 1(2), 131–139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40484-013-0013-3
Li, B., and L. You. “Predictive power of cell-to-cell variability.” Quantitative Biology 1, no. 2 (June 1, 2013): 131–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40484-013-0013-3.
Li B, You L. Predictive power of cell-to-cell variability. Quantitative Biology. 2013 Jun 1;1(2):131–9.
Li, B., and L. You. “Predictive power of cell-to-cell variability.” Quantitative Biology, vol. 1, no. 2, June 2013, pp. 131–39. Scopus, doi:10.1007/s40484-013-0013-3.
Li B, You L. Predictive power of cell-to-cell variability. Quantitative Biology. 2013 Jun 1;1(2):131–139.
Journal cover image

Published In

Quantitative Biology

DOI

EISSN

2095-4697

ISSN

2095-4689

Publication Date

June 1, 2013

Volume

1

Issue

2

Start / End Page

131 / 139

Related Subject Headings

  • 3102 Bioinformatics and computational biology
  • 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology