Stem cells are defined as cells from a multicellular organism that has the ability to give rise indefinitely to any type of cell, if taken from a very early stage of development, or can give rise to more cells of the same type, if the stem cell is at an adult stage. Stem cells can be taken from the blastocysts (about 50-150 cells and 4-5 day old humans) in embryos or from adult stem cells, which are found in the umbilical cord blood or bone marrow. The role for adult stem cells is to replenish dying cells or regenerate damaged cells from tissues whereas embryonic stem cells are differentiating to initially create the tissues and organs that are essential for life. All in all, stem cells have a great potential to be used in therapies because of their ability to proliferate. In the future, stem cells may be used to generate new tissues or organs that may be used in tissue or organ replacement.

Over the past few years, there have been many studies on the unique gene-expression patterns in human and mouse embryonic stem cell lines (11 and 12). These studies function to identify how embryonic stem cells differentiate into different tissues or organs. The expression levels of all of the genes in the stem cells may identify crucial pathways and that these stem cells undergo in order to proliferate into a specific tissue or organ. In order to for the genes to act on the stem cells for the cells to either differentiate into a tissue or organ or remain pluripotent, these genes need to be expressed. These genes undergo transcription and translation in order to form functional proteins that influence the stem cells path to differentiation. One possible way that Roger D. Kornberg’s work on RNA polymerase II could be identifying how this enzyme expresses these genes, and if there is any difference in the action of this polymerase when activating these genes versus other genes.

Furthermore, other studies have shown that there are some specific transcription factors involved in the sustainment of individual stem cells to remain in the undifferentiating state. Studies on these unique transcription factors, including OCT3, OCT4, Rex-1, and Nanog could give rise to a better understanding of the function of stem cells and the pathways that they are involved in, such as the Wnt pathway (10). Also, studies on the origins of stem cells may lead to conclusions of finding more of these transcription factors, genes, or other components that are involved in keeping stem cells in the undifferentiating state (12). Another major possible way that Roger D. Kornberg’s work may affect stem cell research is through the mechanisms that these transcription factors bind to the different defined domains and regions that Kornberg and his colleagues have defined. By identifying the specific binding mechanisms between these transcription factors and the RNA polymerase II, comparisons can be made between the bindings of various transcription factors to RNA polymerase II in order to see if there is patterning or a difference in the RNA polymerase II action based on the binding of specific transcription factors. This may allow the grouping of transcription factors into categories based on the functions that they perform. Furthermore, these studies could reveal the roles of some unknown transcription factors. 

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