Current approaches to fate mapping and lineage tracing using image data

Visualizing, tracking and reconstructing cell lineages in developing embryos has been an ongoing effort for well over a century. Recent advances in light microscopy, labelling strategies and computational methods to analyse complex image datasets have enabled detailed investigations into the fates of cells. Combined with powerful new advances in genomics and single-cell transcriptomics, the field of developmental biology is able to describe the formation of the embryo like never before. In this Review, we discuss some of the different strategies and applications to lineage tracing in live-imaging data and outline software methodologies that can be applied to various cell-tracking challenges.

Automated summary

Advances in light microscopy, labelling strategies and computational methods have enabled detailed investigations into cell fates, and when combined with genomics and single-cell transcriptomics, developmental biology can describe embryo formation in unprecedented detail. The review discusses different strategies and applications for lineage tracing in live-imaging data, as well as outlining software methodologies for various cell-tracking challenges.