New Delhi– Australian researchers have unveiled a powerful new genetic barcoding technology that allows scientists to trace the developmental journey of individual cells in embryos with unmatched precision, offering transformative insights into human biology and disease.
The innovative system, named LoxCode, was developed by scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne. It works by assigning each cell in a genetically engineered mouse embryo a unique DNA barcode, enabling researchers to track how that cell divides, migrates, and specializes over time, according to Xinhua news agency.
Capable of generating 30 billion unique DNA barcodes, LoxCode vastly surpasses existing lineage-tracing tools and allows for comprehensive mapping of cell ancestry through standard genetic sequencing methods.
Already gaining global traction, LoxCode is being adopted in studies on brain development, immune system function, and organ regeneration. Its application has led to surprising new discoveries about when and how cells begin to commit to specific roles in the body.
“We found that even when an embryo is just a cluster of a few hundred cells, some are already programmed to become brain, gut, blood, or other tissues—while others remain flexible and can develop into any cell type,” said Professor Shalin Naik, WEHI laboratory head and lead researcher on the project.
“This fundamentally changes how we understand early development. What excites me most is the research possibilities LoxCode enables—it’s rare to create a tool with such wide applicability that can transform our understanding of how the human body is built,” Naik added.
Tom Weber, co-inventor of LoxCode and a researcher at both WEHI and the University of Melbourne, likened the system to giving each cell a unique and inheritable “DNA hand,” making it possible to conduct a detailed lineage analysis.
“LoxCode is essentially a DNA ancestry test for every cell in every tissue of the mouse,” Weber explained. “It lets scientists unravel some of life’s greatest biological mysteries, including how diseases arise and how regenerative medicine can harness the body’s natural potential.”
The findings were published in the prestigious journal Cell, marking a major leap forward in developmental biology and offering promising new avenues for diagnosing and treating developmental disorders, cancers, and degenerative diseases. (Source: IANS)
