The Hydractinia cell atlas reveals cellular and molecular principles of cnidarian coloniality

We used scRNA-seq to profile 199113 single cell transcriptomes of Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus, a highly regenerative colonial cnidarian. We characterized all major cell types, their transcription factors and gene networks, and analysed the basic mechanisms of coloniality in cnidarians. Overall design: Tissue (polyps or stolons) were isolated from a whole colony of male clone 291-10 by cutting. Samples were simultaneously fixed and dissociated using ACME. Colony parts are identified based on library and Round 1 barcode.