stemrange

Stemrange is a conceptual framework and experimental platform used to map the differentiation potential of stem cells across a continuum of signaling conditions. It aims to quantify how varying cues influence lineage choice and the stability of cell states, from pluripotency to committed progenitors.

Typical implementations combine controlled cue delivery, such as microfluidic gradient generators or programmable culture substrates, with single-cell readouts. Cells are exposed to a spectrum of signaling environments, and transcriptomic or epigenomic data are collected to construct a stemrange map—an annotated landscape that shows potency boundaries and branching points where cells diverge toward distinct lineages.

Applications include developmental biology research, where researchers study how tissues pattern under different cues; regenerative medicine, to identify robust differentiation protocols; and drug screening, to detect compounds that alter lineage trajectories or induce unintended differentiation. The approach emphasizes quantitative, scalable assessment of state transitions rather than single-condition outcomes.

Stemrange builds on ideas from stem cell potency, lineage tracing, and single-cell analysis. It complements existing methods such as trajectory inference and organoid models by explicitly modeling an environment-driven spectrum of potential fates. Limitations include technical challenges in maintaining stable gradients, isolating causal cues from collateral effects, and the interpretation of high-dimensional data.

While not universally adopted, the concept has influenced experimental design in stem cell biology and complementary fields. Ongoing work seeks standardized metrics for potency, improved integration with real-time imaging, and open sharing of stemrange maps to enable cross-study comparisons.