Generation of photoreceptors and retinal epithelium cells from embryonic stem cells

This protocol describes a method to generate photoreceptors and neural epithelium cells from human embryonic stem cells via the formation of neural rosettes. When culturing neural rosettes as floating neurospheres for 80 days, cells begin to express photoreceptor markers. In contrast, when culturing neural rosettes under adherent conditions for 40 days, cells begin to express retinal epithelium cell (RPE) markers.