April 02, 2026
Researchers at the University of Chicago have developed a groundbreaking method to measure gene activity across an entire mouse body, providing an unprecedented view of how drugs, mutations, or diseases impact multiple organs simultaneously. Published in Cell, the technique combines ultra-thin body sectioning with spatial transcriptomics, allowing scientists to track the expression of thousands of genes at precise locations throughout the animal.
Traditional approaches typically analyze one organ at a time, requiring tissue homogenization and preventing insight into systemic interactions. In contrast, the new method uses a cryomacrotome to cut complete frozen mice into super-thin slices, which are then processed using specialized probes that capture RNA molecules along with their spatial origin. Sequencing these transcripts provides a comprehensive map of gene activity across tissues and organs, revealing patterns that would otherwise remain hidden.
This approach builds on existing spatial transcriptomic techniques but extends them to an unprecedented scale, combining experimental innovation with computational analysis to handle the vast data generated. Experts such as Jeffrey Moffitt of Boston Children’s Hospital describe the work as a technical milestone, demonstrating the potential of body-wide gene mapping.
By enabling researchers to study whole-body responses to drugs, genetic mutations, or disease processes, this method could transform preclinical research, improve the understanding of systemic effects, and guide the development of more effective and targeted therapies for human health.
CREDITS: SCIENCE JOURNALS