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GENETICS

Mutational fingerprints reconstruct human cell genealogies

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 18, pages 6–7 (2022)Cite this article

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Four new reports uncover the lineage relationships between cells throughout the body using mutations in the genome as cellular barcodes. The mutational composition of different tissues provides insights into both developmental processes and organ homeostasis, and may have important implications for our understanding of hereditary diseases such as polycystic kidney disease.

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Fig. 1: Defining lineage relationships using mutations as cellular barcodes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Parker C. Wilson

  2. Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Benjamin D. Humphreys

  3. Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Benjamin D. Humphreys

Authors
  1. Parker C. Wilson
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  2. Benjamin D. Humphreys
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Correspondence to Benjamin D. Humphreys.

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Competing interests

B.D.H. is a consultant for Janssen Research & Development, Pfizer and Chinook Therapeutics. B.D.H. holds equity in Chinook Therapeutics and sponsored research agreements with Janssen Research & Development and Chinook Therapeutics. P.C.W. declares no competing interests.

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Wilson, P.C., Humphreys, B.D. Mutational fingerprints reconstruct human cell genealogies. Nat Rev Nephrol 18, 6–7 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-021-00503-6

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