Researchers hit ‘major milestone’ in mapping cells of the human body

It is hoped that charting the types and properties of all human cells will help experts to better treat diseases such as cancer, diabetes and arthritis

Human lung tissue represented in waves of purple, pink and blue circles. Picture: Nathan Richoz/University of Cambridge

A “major milestone” has been reached in the goal of mapping all the cells in the human body, researchers say.

It is hoped that charting the types and properties of all human cells – to build a reference map of the healthy human body – will help experts to better treat diseases such as cancer, diabetes and arthritis.