Tissue dissociation
Definition
Converting tissue into single cells (or small clusters) for downstream assays like single-cell genomics or cell sorting.
Why it matters
For scientific teams:
- Determines cell yield, viability, and representation of native populations.
- Impacts preservation of surface markers and transcriptional states.
- Sets the foundation for accurate downstream single-cell analysis.
For decision-makers:
- Poor dissociation compromises entire workflows and datasets.
- Reproducible dissociation reduces assay failure rates.
- High-quality input material protects investment in downstream platforms.
FAQ
Q: What is the goal of tissue dissociation?
A: To generate viable, representative cells while preserving biologically relevant features.
Q: What are common tradeoffs in dissociation?
A: Speed versus gentleness, yield versus preservation of sensitive markers.