title: Functional analysis of adult stem cells using Cre-mediated lineage tracing.
abstract: Lineage-tracing has been used for decades to establish cell fate maps during development. Recently, with the advent of genetic lineage-tracing techniques (employing Cre-lox recombination), it has been possible to permanently mark progenitor/stem cell populations within somatic tissues. In addition, pulse-chase studies have shown that only stem cells are capable of producing labeled progeny after an extensive period of chase. This unit focuses on the protocols used to target putative adult stem cells in vivo. Using these techniques, one should be able to functionally confirm or deny the stem cell capacity of a given cell population.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Carlone
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D019070:Cell Lineage; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019426:Integrases; D012107:Research Design; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase