Singapore Scientists Lead Human Embryonic Stem Cell Study

SINGAPORE, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Researchers from A*STAR Singapore took lead roles in a study which identified a portion of the genome mutated during long-term culture of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The study was a worldwide collaboration, led by Drs Peter Andrews of the University of Sheffield (UK), Paul Robson of the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Steve Oh of Singapore’s Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) and Barbara Knowles and others in the international stem cell community. Involving 125 ethnically diverse hESC lines originating from 38 laboratories globally, and now identified to represent multiple ethnic groups from different parts of the globe, the study is the largest to be conducted on the genetic stability of cultured hESCs. The findings are published today in the journal, Nature Biotechnology. Dr Robson, the Senior Group Leader of the Developmental Cellomics Laboratory, GIS, said: “Not only does this work provide important information for evaluating human embryonic stem cell genetic integrity, it also highlights the general utility of these cells in understanding human biology and disease." -- BERNAMA