Cell Division History Observed in Genetic Material with DNA Typewriter Technology

Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine have constructed a cellular phylogenetic tree of the first 13.5 days of mouse embryo development using DNA Typewriter technology, which stores cell division history within genetic material.

DNA typewriter technology records cell lineages, creating new opportunities for research into diseases related to cell division. The mammalian body begins with a fertilized egg; cells then continuously divide and gradually differentiate into various cell types. The embryo builds complex tissues, organs, and systems from a few starting cells. The history of cell division in DNA helps us understand how each cell forms the basis of a complete organism. However, directly observing this entire process in individual cells is a major challenge.

Led by Jay Shendure, a professor of genomics at the Washington University School of Medicine and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the research team used a technology called DNA Typewriter. Instead of capturing images of cells at different times, the DNA Typewriter system stores information about their division history directly inside the genetic material. The phylogenetic tree defines the relationships between cell lineages. Scientists inserted a redesigned sequence into the genome of fertilized mouse eggs. As the embryos developed, this sequence was passed down to daughter cells, recording crucial stages that could be used to reconstruct their relationships with their ancestors.