Choosing a cell atlas without choosing your conclusion
A practical checklist for tissue coverage, donor structure, annotation depth, and replication.
Start with the biological question
An atlas should be selected because it samples the tissue, developmental period, and cell resolution required by the mechanism. Dataset size is not a substitute for biological fit.
Audit the study design
Record donor count, disease status, tissue handling, sequencing protocol, and annotation method. These details define which contrasts the atlas can support.
Plan replication before analysis
Select at least one independent reference before examining the main result. This reduces the temptation to choose a validation dataset that flatters the first finding.