1218-SPACE-seq: Spatial Lineage Tracing

Researchers have developed SPACE-seq, a sophisticated platform that combines CRISPR-based lineage tracing with spatial transcriptomics to map cell ancestry and identity within native tissues. By utilizing DARLIN mouse models, this technology captures high-resolution data on how individual cells evolve and interact across space and time. The study demonstrates the tool's power by uncovering monoclonal origins and transcriptional diversification in liver cancer, as well as identifying specific tumor-stroma crosstalk that drives disease progression. Beyond oncology, the authors used the platform to reconstruct 3D lineage maps of brain development and reveal the timing of liver lobe formation. Ultimately, SPACE-seq provides a versatile framework for understanding the complex principles of cellular organization and tissue patterning in both health and disease.

References:

• Jia Y, Sun D, Weir J A, et al. SPACE-seq integrates spatial transcriptomics and lineage tracing in native tissues[J]. Cell Stem Cell, 2026.