Defining Cell Types Using Transcriptomics, Morphology, and Electrophysiology

Overview of how multi-modal data is gathered to define cell types in the brain

resource type /

Lesson(s)

topic /

neuroscience

published / March 2, 2026

audience /

Graduate

Undergraduate

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lesson

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contributors

Lauren Alfiler

Education and Engagement Specialist III

Kaitlyn Casimo

Manager, Education & Engagement

About this lesson:

Slide decks

This lesson overviews how current research defines cell types in the brain by gathering transcriptomic, morphological, and electrophysiological data. We encourage instructors to customize this lesson to fit their specific needs. These slides provide an in-depth overview of the data collection process for each data type (transcriptomic, morphological, electrophysiological), so we encourage instructors to pick-and-choose which slides best align with your course content.

Lab activity

This resource also includes a student research guide and webinar, assisting students in their exploration of the Cell Type Knowledge Explorer. The student research guide walks students through selecting their cell type of interest, exploring gene expression markers, and comparing their work to previously published results.

This lesson was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U24NS133077. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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