Characterizing the genetic stability of human naïve and primed pluripotent stem cells

The presence of genetic changes in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can affect their behavior and impact on the utility of hPSC-based applications in research and clinic. The spectrum of spontaneously arising genetic abnormalities in hPSCs is wide and ranges from numerical and structural chromosomal anomalies down to point mutations. The detection of genetic changes in hPSCs is confounded by the fact that no single method detects all types of abnormalities with the same accuracy and sensitivity, therefore necessitating the use of a combination of different methods. Here, we provide detailed protocols for two methods commonly utilized for the detection of genetic changes in naïve and primed hPSCs: karyotyping by G-banding and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).