Copy number variation and selection during reprogramming to pluripotency

Abstract
Reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells that can be differentiated into many cell types has great potential for personalized therapy. By comparing copy number variations of early- and intermediate-passage human iPS cells to their respective parental fibroblast cells and human embryonic stem (ES) cells, this study finds that a high mutation rate is associated with the reprogramming process. However, during moderate length culture, human iPS cells undergo a selection process leading to decreased mutation load of cells equivalent to that observed in human ES cells.