Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gastrulation01:56

Gastrulation

60.8K
Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata...
60.8K
Determination01:51

Determination

19.6K
During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In...
19.6K
Cellular Differentiation00:57

Cellular Differentiation

4.1K
How does a complex organism such as a human develop from a single cell? It all starts from a single fertilized egg which gives rise to a vast array of cell types, such as nerve cells, muscle cells, and epithelial cells that characterize the adult? Throughout development and adulthood, cellular differentiation leads cells to assume their final morphology and physiology. Differentiation is the process by which unspecialized cells become specialized to carry out distinct functions.
A zygote is a...
4.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Arrayed single-gene perturbations identify drivers of human anterior neural tube closure.

eLife·2026
Same author

Real-time transcriptomic profiling of hPSC-derived cartilage during development identifies a key role for the extracellular matrix in homeostasis and protection.

Development (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same author

PrimeFlow<sup>TM</sup> Assay for Cell Type-Specific Co-detection of Transgene RNA and Protein in Mouse Spleens From Preclinical Studies.

Bio-protocol·2026
Same author

Immunoregulation by DC and T cells in psoriasis with probable immunotherapeutic approaches.

International reviews of immunology·2026
Same author

Mutual antagonism between PRC1 condensates and SWI/SNF in chromatin regulation.

Molecular cell·2026
Same author

Human stem cell-based embryo models: innovation, ethics, and policy.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 13, 2025

In Vitro Generation of Somite Derivatives from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
06:21

In Vitro Generation of Somite Derivatives from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: April 25, 2019

9.6K

Modulating mesendoderm competence during human germ layer differentiation.

James R Valcourt1, Roya E Huang2, Sharmistha Kundu3

  • 1Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Division of Applied Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

Cell Reports
|November 10, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human stem cells lose developmental options as they differentiate. Researchers identified key transcription factors controlling this fate choice, enabling manipulation of developmental windows for better control of stem cell differentiation.

Keywords:
Waddington landscapecell fate competencedevelopmental trajectoryectodermgene regulatory networkgerm layer choicehuman embryonic stem cellsmesendodermreaction coordinates

More Related Videos

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation
12:59

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Published on: February 28, 2021

3.9K
Analysis of Neural Crest Migration and Differentiation by Cross-species Transplantation
09:03

Analysis of Neural Crest Migration and Differentiation by Cross-species Transplantation

Published on: February 7, 2012

23.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 13, 2025

In Vitro Generation of Somite Derivatives from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
06:21

In Vitro Generation of Somite Derivatives from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: April 25, 2019

9.6K
Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation
12:59

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Published on: February 28, 2021

3.9K
Analysis of Neural Crest Migration and Differentiation by Cross-species Transplantation
09:03

Analysis of Neural Crest Migration and Differentiation by Cross-species Transplantation

Published on: February 7, 2012

23.0K

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Pluripotent stem cells differentiate into specific cell lineages.
  • As differentiation progresses, stem cells lose the ability to adopt alternative fates, a process known as loss of competence.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing this loss of competence is crucial for developmental biology and regenerative medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the molecular regulators that control the window of mesendoderm competence during ectoderm differentiation in human embryonic stem cells.
  • To investigate how gene regulatory networks modulate cell fate decisions during early human development.
  • To explore methods for controlling stem cell fate choices in vitro.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a low-dimensional reaction coordinate to track stem cell progression towards ectoderm.
  • Prospectively isolated differentiating cells based on their mesendoderm competence using the identified reaction coordinate.
  • Performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) on isolated cells.
  • Identified key transcription factors regulating mesendoderm competence.

Main Results:

  • A specific point along the ectoderm differentiation trajectory was identified where mesendoderm competence sharply declines.
  • RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analyses revealed transcription factors critical for maintaining or restricting mesendoderm competence.
  • Modulation of these identified transcription factors successfully altered the window of mesendoderm competence.

Conclusions:

  • The gene regulatory network controlling cell competence is dynamic and can be modulated during differentiation.
  • Identifying and manipulating key transcription factors allows for precise control over stem cell fate decisions.
  • This research provides insights into human development and offers potential strategies for directed stem cell differentiation in vitro.