Pluripotent stem cells are defined, in part, by their potential to generate cell types from all three embryonic germ layers. However, it is well known within the field that there is variability in developmental potential between cell lines. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as lineage bias, is manifest in a variable response of individual cell lines to induction of differentiation into a specific germ layer lineage. Although lineage bias in pluripotent stem cells has been reported for some years, we do not fully understand its molecular basis, or its implications for normal development. The guests on today’s program studied functional variation in human PSC lines as they progress through neurectoderm versus mesendoderm lineages and fore- versus hind-brain development. They will discuss the origin and consequences of inter-individual variation in the early events orchestrating human neural development, the extent to which such variation might impact on adult health and disease, and how it might be exploited in stem cell therapy. 

Guests
Ron McKay is the Director of Basic Science at the Lieber Institute and has appointments in multiple departments and the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA. He currently serves as a member of the Stem Cell Reports Editorial Board. 

Suel-Kee Kim is an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Neuroscience at Yale University School of Medicine, USA. 

Seungmae Seo is an Assistant Professor at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, USA. Seungmae is a former ISSCR Merit and Travel Award Winner.

Host
Martin Pera, Editor-in-Chief, Stem Cell Reports and The Jackson Laboratory
@martinperaJAX

Supporting Content
Individual variation in the emergence of anterior-to-posterior neural fates from human pluripotent stem cells, Stem Cell Reports

About Stem Cell Reports
Stem Cell Reports is the open access, peer-reviewed journal of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) for communicating basic discoveries in stem cell research, in addition to translational and clinical studies. Stem Cell Reports focuses on original research with conceptual or practical advances that are of broad interest to stem cell biologists and clinicians.
X: @StemCellReports

About ISSCR
With nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (@ISSCR) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health.

ISSCR Staff
Keith Alm, Chief Executive Officer
Yvonne Fisher, Managing Editor, Stem Cell Reports
Kym Kilbourne, Director of Media and Strategic Communications
Jack Mosher, Scientific Advisor

Voice Work
Ben Snitkoff