5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) is a thymidine analogue which is incorporated into the DNA of dividing cells. EdU is used to assay DNA synthesis in cell culture and detect cells in embryonic, neonatal and adult animals which have undergone DNA synthesis. Whilst at high doses it can be cytotoxic, this molecule is now widely used to track proliferating cells in multiple biological systems.
EdU-labelling allows cells to be isolated without denaturing RNA, allowing researchers determine the transcriptional profile of cells. This approach has been used to assess transcription in neuronal cells and tissues that have recently divided either in vitro or in vivo.

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