Grant: Operating Grant

Stem cells have received considerable public attention in part because of their potential application in regenerative therapies. Stem cells can be operationally defined as cells that have the unique property to self-renew as well as to generate more differentiated progeny (differentiation). However, much remains to be learned about the genes regulating stem cell differentiation and renewal, their relationship to each other, and the signalling pathways that control their expression and/or activity. In this application, we propose to use a new resource developed in our laboratory to efficiently identify novel genes and other elements which are essential for the generation of (adult) blood cells from embryonic stem cells. A particular emphasis is put on genes involved in ribosome biogenesis. They are becoming key players in blood cell formation and cancer development.