Before the project began, our knowledge of cells resembled a “map from the 15th century.” Now, Thanks to modern technologies, we have an image of a quality comparable to Google Maps – both a detailed view of the “topography” and dynamic changes in the body.
Higher resolution of the “human” map
One of the biggest challenges of this project is that different cell types can look similar under a microscope but differ at the molecular level. Thanks to advanced technologies like RNA sequencing and artificial intelligence, finally however, it is possible to create unique “identity cards” for each cell type.
Suffice it to mention that previously it was assumed that there are about 200 types of cells in the human body, but now it is known that there are thousands of them! The project is building maps of 18 biological networks, including the brain and plans to publish the first full version of the atlas in 2026.
Right now However, publications in Nature talk about several milestones of this projectcompared to the Human Genome Project, a mapping of the human genome that lasted two decades. This includes a map of the digestive tract (from the mouth to the large intestine) containing 1.6 million cells, a skeleton in the prenatal phase, which allowed the identification of genes associated with the risk of hip arthritis, the structure of the thymus gland, an organ that is key to the immune system, and a map of blood vessels and molecular architecture of the placenta.
The project also contributed, among others, to: to discover a previously unknown type of cell in the respiratory system – the ionocyte, which may help in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, atlas data revealed that the nose, eyes and mouth are the main points of entry for the virus into the body. The atlas, based on samples from around the world, differs from the previously mentioned human genome project, which was based mainly on a single individual. As the project’s originators emphasize, these advances could revolutionize medicine, opening the way to a better understanding of health, disease and new therapies.
Source: geekweek.interia.pl
