This Episode's Stem Cell Roundup:

• First Results from Major Studies of Human Genetic Variation – A massive genome-sequencing and analysis effort has produced the most comprehensive sets of data and tools for understanding human genetic variation so far.
• Exploring Stem Cell Differentiation – Researchers have developed a new highly multiplexed single-cell RNA sequencing method to understand the signaling pathways that drive embryonic stem cell differentiation.
• Tri-Cellular Cardiac Microtissue Model – By combining three types of cardiac cells, scientists have developed a human iPSC-derived microtissue platform for modeling multicellular cardiac diseases, and revealed non-cardiomyocyte contributions to heart disease.
• Modeling the Early Embryonic Brain – Neural tube development has been modeled by exposing embryonic stem cells to WNT signaling gradients that mimic developmental patterning.