Single-Cell RNA sequencing - statistical challenges and its application to uncovering cancer heterogeneity

Single-Cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is an emerging technology with the promise to uncover the transcriptome at the ultimate resolution of single cells. However, in order to make sense of the data, one must overcome the technical and biological noise inherent in the process. In this introductory talk which assumes no biological background, I will present the the concept of RNA sequencing and its ability to identify different cell types, the obfuscating factors encountered in such experiments and the bioinformatical tools we use to counter them. Finally I will present an application of these methods to samples derived from ovarian cancer patients, emphasizing the unique insights attained with scRNA-seq.