Figure 1.

Possible scenarios of hPSC fates following an acquisition of random mutations. (A) If a detrimental mutation arises, the mutated cell will die and the mutation will not be propagated in culture. (B) If a mutation causes cell differentiation, the mutant cell will not only be lost from the stem cell pool, but it may also start producing factors that induce differentiation of other hPSCs. Due to the loss of stem cells through differentiation, the mutated cell will not be selected for and its progeny will be eventually lost from the culture. (C) If a mutation causes improved survival and/or increased proliferation, the mutated cell is likely to outcompete its neighboring cells and populate the culture with its own progeny