Researchers have made advancements in identifying leukemic and pre-leukemic stem cells through single-cell transcriptomics and clonal tracking. This breakthrough may lead to improved detection and understanding of acute myeloid leukemia, including the role of pre-leukemic hematopoietic stem cells and potential therapeutic targets. The findings could also shed light on the dynamics of clonal hematopoiesis and the development of therapy resistance in leukemia.