A method of producing a synthetic retina, including differentiating a stem cell culture in a culture medium and supplementing the culture with: (i) Triiodothyronine from about day 18 of cell differentiation; and (ii) retinoic acid for a first time period.

The invention disclosed herein generally relates to methods and systems for converting stem cells into specific tissue(s) or organ(s) through directed differentiation. In particular, the invention disclosed herein relates to methods and systems for promoting human self-organizing single-rosette spheroids (SOSRS), a type of brain organoid, comprising neuroepithelium having either a dorsal cell fate or a ventral cell fate formation from pluripotent stem cells.

A method of promoting neural stem cell differentiation is provided comprising exposing neural stem cells to a dopamine D.sub.4 receptor antagonist.

Provided herein are host cells capable of producing hybrid oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, wherein said hybrid oligosaccharides and polysaccharides do not comprise a hexose at the reducing end of their first repeat unit. Also provided herein are hybrid oligosaccharides or polysaccharides and bioconjugates which can be produced by the host cells described herein, wherein said bioconjugates comprise a carrier protein linked to a hybrid oligosaccharide or polysaccharide that does not comprise a hexose at the reducing end of its first repeat unit.

Provided herein are host cells capable of producing hybrid oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, wherein said hybrid oligosaccharides and polysaccharides do not comprise a hexose at the reducing end of their first repeat unit. Also provided herein are hybrid oligosaccharides or polysaccharides and bioconjugates which can be produced by the host cells described herein, wherein said bioconjugates comprise a carrier protein linked to a hybrid oligosaccharide or polysaccharide that does not comprise a hexose at the reducing end of its first repeat unit.

Compositions and methods for treating neuronal injury, such as in Parkinson's disease, comprising administration of hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stromal cells to a subject are provided. Methods for producing such compositions from blood, including umbilical cord blood are also provided.

Methods for generating human midbrain immature neurons and mature dopaminergic neurons from neural progenitor cells are provided. The immature and mature midbrain neurons are obtained from neural progenitors such as committed midbrain neural stem cells (NSCs) and midbrain neural progenitor cells (midbrain NPCs), which themselves are generated from human pluripotent stem cells. The methods for generating midbrain immature and mature neurons use chemically-defined culture media that allow for generation of mature dopaminergic neurons in as little as 23 days. Culture media, isolated cell populations and kits are also provided.

Provided herein are host cells capable of producing hybrid oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, wherein said hybrid oligosaccharides and polysaccharides do not comprise a hexose at the reducing end of their first repeat unit. Also provided herein are hybrid oligosaccharides or polysaccharides and bioconjugates which can be produced by the host cells described herein, wherein said bioconjugates comprise a carrier protein linked to a hybrid oligosaccharide or polysaccharide that does not comprise a hexose at the reducing end of its first repeat unit.

Provided herein are host cells capable of producing hybrid oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, wherein said hybrid oligosaccharides and polysaccharides do not comprise a hexose at the reducing end of their first repeat unit. Also provided herein are hybrid oligosaccharides or polysaccharides and bioconjugates which can be produced by the host cells described herein, wherein said bioconjugates comprise a carrier protein linked to a hybrid oligosaccharide or polysaccharide that does not comprise a hexose at the reducing end of its first repeat unit.

There is provided a method for culturing a stem cell in vitro. The method comprises providing a substrate surface coated with a coating comprising a molecule having a catechol moiety or a polymer thereof; and growing a stem cell on said coated substrate surface in a growth medium.