Spatial barcoding attaches a location-associated sequence label to a measured molecule or its derivative. In spatial transcriptomics, sequencing the barcode together with captured RNA connects expression measurements to tissue position. The barcode identifies the sampling location rather than necessarily the exact original molecular coordinate or a unique cell. Slide-seq implements the principle with individually barcoded, position-mapped beads. [ref]
Visualization and analysis of gene expression in tissue sections by spatial transcriptomics by Patrik L. Ståhl and others. 2016, spatially barcoded capture probes
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