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Stem cells, both adult and germline, are the key cells underpinning animal evolution. Yet, surprisingly little is known about the evolution of their shared key feature: pluripotency. Now using genome-wide expression profiling of pluripotent planarian adult stem cells (pASCs), Önal et al (2012) present evidence for deep molecular conservation of pluripotency. They characterise the expression profile of pASCs and identify conserved expression profiles and functions for genes required for mammalian pluripotency. Their analyses suggest that molecular pluripotency mechanisms may be conserved, and tantalisingly that pluripotency in germ stem cells (GSCs) and somatic stem cells (SSCs) may have had shared common evolutionary origins.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/emboj.2012.131

Type

Journal article

Journal

EMBO J

Publication Date

13/06/2012

Volume

31

Pages

2747 - 2749

Keywords

Animals, Cell Differentiation, Cell Proliferation, Gene Expression Regulation, Planarians, Pluripotent Stem Cells