DNA microscope creates 3D images of organisms from the inside out

Standard genetic sequencing approaches can tell you a lot about the genetic makeup and activity in a sample, like a piece of tissue or drop of blood.

But they don't tell you where specific genetic sequences were located inside that sample, or their relationship to other genes and molecules.

Researchers at the University of Chicago are developing a new technology that overcomes these challenges. By tagging each DNA or RNA molecule and allowing neighboring tags to interact, the technique constructs a molecular network that encodes their relative positions, creating a spatial map of genetic material.

This technique, called volumetric DNA microscopy, creates a 3D image of an entire organism from the inside out, giving scientists an unprecedented view of genetic sequences and where they are located, down to individual cells.

In a paper published in Nature Biotechnology, Weinstein and postdoctoral scholar Nianchao Qian used the technology to create a complete DNA image of a zebrafish embryo, a common model organism for studying development and neurobiology. "It's a level of biology that no one has ever seen before," Weinstein said. "To be able to see that kind of a view of nature from within a specimen is exhilarating."

Image source: Weinstein Lab, University of Chicago.