Single-Cell RNA-seq Cell Type Annotation Guide
A decision-tree-driven skill for labeling cell types in scRNA-seq data via manual markers, automated classifiers, or reference label transfer.
Data & AnalyticsIntermediate★ 361⑂ 36AI score 8/10Last updated: Aug 29, 2026
What it does
- Standardizes the cell type annotation workflow for single-cell RNA-seq datasets.
- Helps you choose among manual marker-based (Scanpy/Seurat), automated (CellTypist), and reference label transfer (scArches/scANVI/Azimuth/SingleR) using a decision tree and scenario tables.
- Provides a 4-step workflow — QC first, marker assessment, automated validation, reference refinement — with runnable Python snippets.
- Documents 7 common pitfalls (doublet clusters, ambient RNA, over-interpreting tiny clusters, reference mismatch, conflating states with types, etc.) and how to avoid each.
- Includes marker panels for immune, epithelial, and stromal lineages plus a final validation checklist.
Who it's for
- Bioinformaticians and grad students analyzing scRNA-seq data
- Anyone who has clustered in Scanpy/Seurat but is stuck on naming clusters
- Teams needing objective criteria to validate automated annotation output
- Researchers who must document annotation evidence and confidence for publication
Example uses
- "I have 150k human PBMCs — which annotation strategy?" → decision tree routes you to CellTypist with a manual marker dot-plot cross-check.
- "Leiden cluster 7 expresses both CD3D and CD14" → flags a likely doublet cluster and walks through re-running Scrublet and removal.
- "Can I transfer human atlas labels onto zebrafish data?" → warns about cross-species reference mismatch and suggests manual markers with ortholog mapping.
· · · Install guide · · ·
Try it now, no install
Paste this into Claude to use the skill without installing anything.
Read the instructions in this file and follow them to help me: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jaechang-hits/SciAgent-Skills/HEAD/legacy/single-cell-annotation/SKILL.md What I want: (describe your task here)
If Claude can't open the link, open it yourself and paste the contents instead.
↓ If it works for you, download the ZIP below and install it. Then it runs on its own — no pasting each time.
Install in the Claude app (no terminal)
- Download the ZIP with the button below.
- In Claude, open Settings → Capabilities and turn on 'Code execution and file creation'. (one time)
- Go to Customize → Skills → + → 'Upload a skill' and upload the ZIP.
Install in Claude Code
Let Claude do it — paste this into Claude Code
Install the skill I found on Claude Skill Mart. Copy the legacy/single-cell-annotation folder from the GitHub repo jaechang-hits/SciAgent-Skills into my ~/.claude/skills/single-cell-annotation/. When it's done, tell me in one line what this skill can do.
Install with a command instead
git clone https://github.com/jaechang-hits/SciAgent-Skills.git && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r SciAgent-Skills/legacy/single-cell-annotation ~/.claude/skills/⚠ This is a third-party skill. Check the source repository before installing.
- Open a terminal.
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/jaechang-hits/SciAgent-Skills.git - Create the skills directory:
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills - Copy just this skill:
cp -r SciAgent-Skills/legacy/single-cell-annotation ~/.claude/skills/ - Restart Claude Code and confirm
single-cell-annotationappears in your skill list. - Because the skill has no explicit trigger phrases, invoke it directly: "Use the single-cell annotation skill to plan labeling for this dataset."
- To actually run the code samples, install
scanpy,celltypist, andscarchesin your Python environment separately.
View source on GitHub ↗License: NOASSERTION