BICAN: Cell Census of Developing Brain

Integrated analysis of molecular atlases unveils modules driving developmental cell subtype specification in the human cortex

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Authors

Patricia R. Nano, Elisa Fazzari, Daria Azizad, Antoni Martija, Claudia V. Nguyen, Sean Wang, Vanna Giang, Ryan L. Kan, Juyoun Yoo, Brittney Wick, Maximilian Haeussler & Aparna Bhaduri

Citation

Nano, P.R., Fazzari, E., Azizad, D. et al. Integrated analysis of molecular atlases unveils modules driving developmental cell subtype specification in the human cortex. Nat Neurosci 28, 949–963 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-01933-2

Summary

This study integrates 23 single-cell transcriptomic datasets spanning human cortical development and adulthood to construct over 500 gene co-expression networks describing mechanisms of cortical neurogenesis and cell fate specification. These meta-modules reveal dynamic, cell type–specific and spatially patterned gene programs, validated in primary tissue and cortical organoids, demonstrating how key regulators like FEZF2 and TSHZ3 drive deep-layer neuron differentiation through distinct mechanisms.

Nature Collection

Nano et al., Nature Neuroscience

Data and Tools

Resource Name	Resource URL	Description
UCSC Cell Browser	https://dev-ctx-meta-atlas.cells.ucsc.edu	Data Exploration: A Meta-Atlas of the Developing Human Cortex Identifies Modules Driving Cell Subtype Specification.
UCSC Cell Browser	https://adult-ctx-meta-atlas.cells.ucsc.edu	Data Exploration: A Meta-Atlas of the Developing Human Cortex Identifies Modules Driving Cell Subtype Specification.