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Epithelial cells of the mammary gland have the ability to proliferate, differentiate and undergo apoptosis. A murine model system for studying mammary epithelial cell behavior is the HC11 cell line, which has some stem and/or progenitor cell characteristics. HC11 cells can be maintained, in response to special treatment conditions, as undifferentiated cells, competent cells capable of responding to lactogenic hormones, or they can be induced to differentiate. Based on data obtained from a gene array, the aim of this project was to investigate differentially expressed genes in HC11 cells, which might be stem/progenitor cell marker candidates and determine their functions in HC11 cells. This book will be useful for students and individuals working in a microbiological environment interested in the emerging field of adult stem cells. Furthermore this study describes a strategy to identify and validate stem cell marker candidates.

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Thomas Wiedl studied chemistry at the University of Technology in Vienna. During his studies the interest in oncology started to grow and he got the opportunity to work in the lab of Dr. Shemanko, University of Calgary. Inspired by this research experience Thomas Wiedl is currently doing his PhD at the University Hospital in Zurich.

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