Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) provides a unique opportunity to study the regulatory mechanisms that facilitate cellular transitions in a human context. To that end, we performed comprehensive transcriptional and epigenetic profiling of populations derived through directed differentiation of hESCs representing each of the three embryonic germ layers.Integration of whole genome bisulfite sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing and RNA-sequencing reveals unique events associated with specification towards each lineage.A better understanding of these initial specification events will facilitate identification of deficiencies in current approaches leading to more faithful differentiation strategies as well as provide insights into the rewiring of human regulatory programs during cellular transitions.In addition we can take advantage these insights for developing more quantitative and standardized ways of characterizing undifferentiated and differentiated cell types.- Alexander MeissnerTopics:- Human ESC differentiation- Transcriptional and Epigenetic Dynamics during the differentiation of human ESCs- Transcription factors that orchestrate these dynamics- Germ layer specific DNA methylation dynamics