Papers from the literature selected by the Nature Biotechnology editors. (Follow us on Twitter, @NatureBiotech #nbtHighlight)

Real-time three-dimensional cell segmentation in large-scale microscopy data of developing embryos

Stegmaier, J. et al. Dev. Cell Science 36, 225–240 (2016)

A predictive computational framework for direct reprogramming between human cell types

Rackham, O. et al. Nat. Genet. doi:10.1038/ng.3487 (18 January 2016)

Parallel single-cell sequencing links transcriptional and epigenetic heterogeneity

Angermueller, C. et al. Nat. Methods doi:10.1038/nmeth.3728 (11 January 2016)

An essential receptor for adeno-associated virus infection

Pillay, S. et al. Nature 530, 108–112 (2016)

Precision tumor recognition by T cells with combinatorial antigen-sensing circuits

Roybal, K.T. et al. Cell doi:10.1016/j.cell.2016.01.011 (28 January 2016)

Engineering customized cell sensing and response behaviors using synthetic Notch receptors

Morsut, L. et al. Cell doi:10.1016/j.cell.2016.01.012 (28 January 2016)

Metagenomics uncovers gaps in amplicon-based detection of microbial diversity

Eloe-Fadrosh, E.A. et al. Nat. Microbiol. doi:10.1038/nmicrobiol.2015.32 (1 February 2016)