Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Our body is composed of a diverse set of cells that together perform numerous functions in a highly coordinated manner, allowing a timely response to external cues and to inter-cellular signals. Emerging single-cell technologies enable investigation of these intricate processes at an unprecedented level. Here, we discuss recent work on cellular differentiation and heterogeneity, and describe novel experimental and computational tools that enable this research. As an example of cellular differentiation, we focus on T cell development in response to diverse infections and in immune pathologies. ...