[Single-cell study: from physiology to transcriptome analysis]

Gene expression analysis facilitates the study of physiological processes operating at the single-cell level. It allows for the identification of key molecules that are involved in distinct intracellular processes in individual cells. The review focuses on the modern techniques and strategies that are used to establish gene expression profile of a single cell. Particularly, it describes how analysis of gene expression patterns at the single-cell level had provided significant insight into understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms of odor and taste transduction in mammals.