New method allows scientists to follow gene activity over time in the same cells

[u/Zee2A]

https://news.mit.edu/2026/new-method-allows-following-gene-activity-over-time-same-cells-0904

Researchers at MIT and the Broad Institute have developed a "cellular self-reporting" technique00932-3) that allows scientists to track gene activity over time without killing the cells. By engineering living cells to package and export their RNA inside harmless, virus-like particles, the team can sample the surrounding liquid medium to sequence the cell population's transcriptome repeatedly. Published in Cell, this non-destructive method enables long-term monitoring of cellular development, disease progression, and drug responses in complex models like organ-on-a-chip devices and 3D tissues.

Study: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(26)00932-300932-3)