SCOG Virtual Lecture Series
‘Recent Advances in Single Cell Omics’:
8. Dominic Grün (MPI-IE Freiburg)

We are excited to announce the next speaker in our SCOG Virtual Lecture Series ‘Recent Advances in Single Cell Omics’: Dominic Grün (MPI-IE Freiburg).

• Dominic Grün: ‘Revealing Dynamics of Gene Expression Variability in Cell State Space’

  The availability of high-throughput single-cell RNA-sequencing methods has facilitated the identification of cell types in organs and tissues, allowing the creation of tissue cell type atlases. In these efforts typically tens of thousands of cell are sequenced, frequently at low sequencing depth, and cell type identification relies on computational methods sensitive to highly expressed genes. To understand cell differentiation and cell state transitions in general it is crucial to quantify weak expression of lineage determining factors, requiring computational methods sensitive to variability of lowly expressed genes. We here introduce VarID, a computational method that identifies locally homogenous neighborhoods in cell state space, permitting the quantification of local gene expression variability. By controlling for the variance-mean dependence of transcript counts VarID delineates neighborhoods with differential variability and reveals pseudo-temporal dynamics of gene expression variability during differentiation. VarID recovers the stochastic activity of lineage-associated transcription factor networks in murine hematopoietic multipotent progenitors, and reveals increased variability of transcription factors associated with secretory lineages in mouse intestinal epithelial stem cells. In conclusion, our approach enables the investigation of stochastic gene activity, a previously understudied aspect, with the help of single-cell RNA-seq data and can provide novel insights in the regulation of cell fate decision.

Further information on participation, the program and the application for a lecture can be found below.

Virtual lecture series ‘Recent Advances in Single Cell Omics’

• Biweekly event on Fridays at 9:30 am (CEST)

• 30 min presentation, followed by 15 min discussion / Q&A

Synopsis

The virtual lecture series includes biweekly presentations about current single cell research. In addition to selected presentations by invited guests, we would particularly like to offer SCOG partners a platform to present their work to the network (read below how to apply).

The program will be updated regularly (see schedule below).

Participation

The Virtual Lecture Series takes place via GoToWebinar. Please register in order to receive information on how to join the webinar. REGISTER HERE.

Apply for lecture 

We would kindly like to encourage the SCOG community not only to participate as an attendee but to present their work to the community. All contributions are welcome.

If you are a SCOG partner (PI/group leader) and would like to give a talk during the lecture series, please APPLY BY COMPLETING THIS FORM.

Please note that a balanced representation of topics, institutes and gender will be ensured in the selection of applications.