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Related Concept Videos

Pleiotropy01:33

Pleiotropy

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Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...
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Commitment is the  process whereby stem cells:
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John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
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The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...
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Next-generation sequencing technologies have created large genomic databases of a variety of animals and plants. Ever since the human genome project was completed, scientists studied the genome of primates, mammals, and other phylogenetically distant living beings. Such large-scale  studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary relationship between organisms.
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Chromatin modification alters gene expression; therefore, scientists can add histone-modifying enzymes, histone variants, and chromatin remodeling complexes to somatic cells to aid reprogramming into pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
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Updated: May 20, 2025

Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes
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Sox as a Functionally Conserved Link Between Unicellular Ancestors and Human Stem Cell Control.

Emma U Hammarlund1,2

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Researchers discovered ancient SOX and POU transcription factors in pre-animal organisms, revealing conserved mechanisms for stem cell pluripotency. These findings shed light on the evolutionary origins of stem cell regulation fundamental to animal life.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary developmental biology
  • Stem cell biology
  • Molecular genetics

Background:

  • Stem cells are crucial for tissue maintenance, reproduction, and evolution.
  • Transcription factors like Sry-related box 2 (Sox2) and octamer-binding transcriptor factor 4 (Oct4) are central to stem cell pluripotency.
  • These factors were previously considered animal-specific.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary origins of key stem cell transcription factors, Sox2 and Oct4.
  • To explore the conservation of SOX and POU family genes in pre-animal organisms.
  • To determine the functional conservation of these ancient factors in reprogramming somatic cells.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis to identify SOX and POU genes in pre-animal organisms.
  • Functional assays using a SOX protein from a unicellular organism.
  • Reprogramming of somatic mouse cells to induce pluripotent stem cells.

Main Results:

  • SOX and POU genes were identified in pre-animal organisms, challenging their animal-specific classification.
  • A SOX protein from a unicellular organism demonstrated functional conservation.
  • This ancient SOX protein successfully reprogrammed somatic mouse cells into pluripotent stem cells.

Conclusions:

  • The fundamental roles of SOX and POU transcription factors in pluripotency predate the emergence of animals.
  • Functional conservation of these genes across vast evolutionary distances highlights their essential role in life.
  • These findings provide insights into the deep evolutionary history of stem cell regulation.