Perspectives

This article describes the main sources of bias in small RNA-sequencing and the importance of obtaining structure-level information for the correct interpretation of high-throughput sequencing results.

This Perspective covers recent advances in mass spectrometry and explains how these approaches may be used to study the structure and function of protein condensates undergoing liquid–liquid phase separation.

We provide a Perspective highlighting the significant ethical implications of the use of fast-developing neurotechnologies in humans, as well as the regulatory frameworks and guidelines needed to protect neurodata and mental privacy.

This Perspective explains how click chemistry—specifically, the copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition, the strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition and the inverse electron-demand Diels–Alder reaction—has revolutionized radiopharmaceutical chemistry.

In this Perspective, authors from the UK Consortium on Metabolic Phenotyping propose a ‘fit-for-purpose’, four-tiered framework to evaluate the reliability of targeted metabolomics analyses, addressing the need for community-accepted, harmonized guidelines for tiers other than full validation.

In this Perspective, the authors propose genetically engineered mouse models to further the understanding and use of a recently discovered tool, selective endogenous encapsidation for cellular delivery via virus-like particles, in gene delivery and gene therapy applications.

This Perspective discusses the use of CRISPR–Cas9-mediated gene conversion systems in laboratory and wild rodents. Although technical hurdles must be overcome before wild-release strategies are feasible, modest improvements could increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of mouse genetics in the laboratory.

This Perspective from the Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center describes a generalizable and scalable approach to stool and oral microbiome and metadata collection in the Micro-N (Microbiome Among Nurses) study, to show how to carry out prospective studies of the microbiome.

In this Perspective, the authors discuss strategies for creating a versatile set of 30 genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) useful for coronavirus disease 2019 research. In addition, they provide the genetic blueprints needed for developing these GEMMs.

This Perspective discusses the development of the linear amplified RNA amplification technique over the last 25 years, and future applications of this important and versatile methodology.

Here Sarah Teichmann and colleagues provide a Perspective on the exponential scaling of single-cell RNA-sequencing experiments over the last decade, commenting on the methodological developments that have underpinned the advances in this technology.

In their Perspective, Schubert et al. discuss developments and challenges in mass-spectrometry-based proteomics technology in the past decade and explore its role in molecular systems biology, clinical research and personalized medicine.

This Perspective discusses the development and applications of light-sheet-based fluorescence microscopy, a method with considerable advantages over confocal fluorescence microscopy.

In the last decade, super-resolution microscopy has enabled us to image cells with unprecedented detail. This Perspective discusses how the field can move beyond images to extract quantitative biological information from multidimensional SMLM data.

Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy has enabled the structures of large proteins to be elucidated. This Perspective discusses technological improvements in this technique, focusing particularly on the past decade and likely future developments.

In this Perspective, Elaine Mardis reviews a decade of DNA sequencing technology, from the introduction of Next-Generation Sequencing to single-molecule sequencing, including future applications that promise to further biological and biomedical research.

This Perspective from Janet Jansson and colleagues reviews the development of microbiome analysis technologies over the last decade, and comments on the future potential of this fast-moving field.

This Perspective from Jay Shendure's lab reviews the past decade's development of multiplexed assays for variant effects, and also comments on the potential of these experiments for the functional interpretation of genetic variation.

Tissue engineering encompasses various scientific disciplines with the aim of revolutionizing our outlook on the future of research and medicine. In this Perspective, Robert Langer and Ali Khademhosseini discuss the advancing field of tissue engineering, featuring high-impact technologies over the past decade and their own future perspectives on the field.

CRISPR–Cas9 has truly democratized genome editing. In this Perspective, Jin-Soo Kim discusses CRISPR–Cas9 genome editing in the context of earlier innovations using meganucleases, ZFNs and TALENs, which paved the way for the ongoing CRISPR–Cas revolution.