Candidate Stem Cell Isolation and Transplantation in Hexacorallia

The goal of this study is to enrich for stem cells in Hexacorallia by using ALDH activity as a marker. Nematostella vectensis cells were mechanically dissociated and stained with a marker for ALDH activity. Negative, positive, and total (all viable cells) cells were then sorted and RNA was extracted for library construction and RNA sequencing. For this study we used the lab strain of Nematostella originally obtained from Rhode River, Maryland.