Scientists reconstruct cell family trees in developing mouse embryos using new DNA tracking method
Researchers at the University of Washington and Dartmouth College reconstructed the history of cells in a developing mouse embryo over 13.5 days.
New technology records cell lineage
Scientists inserted a redesigned genetic tape into fertilized mouse eggs to record their ancestry. This process tracked relationships starting from the first split of the egg until organs took shape. The team published these results in the journal Science on October 8, 2026.
Study aims to decode development
Dr. Jay Shendure explained that tracking early ancestry helps understand how cells determine their later fates. Exploring cell lineages allows researchers to decode normal development and investigate genetic disorders. The technology was invented by Shendure and Junhong Choi at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
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