Adlakha, Mitali2013-02-052013-02-052012-12https://hdl.handle.net/11299/143928University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. December 2012. Major: Stem Cell Biology. Advisor: Dan S. Kaufman. 1 computer file (PDF); iv, 42 pages.The central goal of the project is to understand the role of non-coding RNAs in mediating cell fate decisions in both human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Two specific aims are pursued in order to understand the process of hematopoiesis and erythropoiesis better. The first aim comprises of understanding the regulatory networks of hematopoiesis better, we plan to profile the microRNA and mRNA expression in hESC/iPSC-derived CD34+ CD45+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells compared to CD34+ cells isolated from umbilical cord blood (UCB). The second aim deals with understanding the erythropoietic development, by profiling the long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) from erythroid cells derived from hESCs and iPSCs. CD34+ UCB derived erythroid cells are used as a positive control for comparing with hESC/iPSC derived erythroid cells. The overall significance of studying the role of non-coding RNA lies in the fact that it will help modulate the hematopoietic pathways and eventually be used for therapeutic purposes.en-USEmbryonicErythroidFlow cytometryGlobin expresssionHemoglobinStem cellsThesis or Dissertation