Abstract: A method for generating a culture that is purified or enriched in respect of cells of a selected lineage is described in which a selectable marker, which is differentially expressed in cells of the selected lineage compared with its expression in other cells, is introduced into a multipotential cell and the multipotential cell is cultured to induce differentiation of the multipotential cell into a cell of the selected lineage or into a mixture of cells including cells of the selected lineage, or is cultured to induce preferential survival of cells of the selected lineage. Those cells that express the selectable marker are then selected for. Progenitors of selected lineage are also described as is the use of the method in assay techniques.

Abstract: A homogenous, symmetrically dividing population of adherent neural stem cells is obtained from ES cells or foetal or adult brain isolates, using an activator of a signalling pathway downstream of a receptor of the EGF receptor family, optionally in combination with an activator of a signalling pathway downstream of an FGF receptor. The neural stem cell population is highly pure and retains the ability to differentiate into neurons after in excess of 100 passages.

Abstract: A method for generating a culture that is purified or enriched in respect of cells of a selected lineage is described in which a selectable marker, which is differentially expressed in cells of the selected lineage compared with its expression in other cells, is introduced into a multipotential cell and the multipotential cell is cultured to induce differentiation of the multipotential cell into a cell of the selected lineage or into a mixture of cells including cells of the selected lineage, or is cultured to induce preferential survival of cells of the selected lineage. Those cells that express the selectable marker are then selected for. Progenitors of selected lineage are also described as is the use of the method in assay techniques.

Abstract: Pluripotency determining factors are described which act intracellularly and maintain a pluripotent cell in a pluripotent state in the absence of gp130 activation, which maintain or confer pluripotency of a human stem cell, which maintain or confer pluripotency of a mouse ES cell, and which maintain or confer pluripotency of a stem cell from a non-permissive strain of mice. The factors and vectors encoding or activating the factors are used to maintain and derive pluripotent cells, especially of higher mammals, including humans.

Abstract: Self renewal of pluripotent cells in culture is promoted using a combination of an activator of a signalling pathway downstream of a receptor of the TGF-? superfamily and an activator of a gp130 downstream signalling pathway.

Abstract: Embryonic stem (ES) cells are cultured in the presence of a compound which selectively inhibits propagation or survival of cells other than ES cells. The ES cells have not been genetically altered. Instead, the compound inhibits a signalling pathway which is essential for propagation of differentiated cells but is not essential for propagation of ES cells—hence ES cells are selectively maintained in the culture.

Abstract: Animal stem cells are obtained and maintained by culturing cells containing, in the genome, a selectable marker. Differential expression of the selectable marker enables preferential survival and/or division of the desired stem cells compared to the non-stem cells.

Abstract: The invention provides a transgenic mouse which is heterozygous or homozygous for an at least partially defective coagulation factor XIII gene.