Imagine if you could have a ‘Google map’ of the human body to refer to, whenever needed? As we learn in this video, that’s analogous to what the Human Cell Atlas project is trying to achieve.

The Human Cell Atlas’ mission is to create comprehensive reference maps of all human cells, as a basis for understanding human health and diagnosing, monitoring and treating disease. The effort is drawing the collaboration of thousands of researchers from over 70 countries.

The truth is, even though they are the most fundamental unit of life, we know surprisingly little about cells. They vary enormously within the body, and express different sets of genes. Without maps of different cell types and where they are located in the body, we cannot describe all their functions and understand the biological networks that direct their activities.

A complete Human Cell Atlas would offer a unique ‘ID card’ for each cell type, a three-dimensional map of how cell types work together to form tissues, knowledge of how all body systems are connected and insights into how changes in the map underlie health and disease.

It would also allow scientists to identify which genes associated with disease are active in someone’s body and where, and analyse the regulatory mechanisms that govern the production of different cell types.

Learn more about the Human Cell Atlas project here.

View the original video here.

Good Living is the Cyprus Mail’s portal of curated content from across the internet, showcasing local and global ideas, cultural highlights, and scientific and technological developments to inspire a sustainable life.