These 96-well plates are pre-configured with the most appropriate TaqMan® Gene Expression Assays for a specific biological process, pathway, or disease state. Each plate contains predefined assays and endogenous controls dried-down in the wells, ready for accurate assessment of an entire gene signature in one simple experiment. The panel of assays in the TaqMan® Array 96-well Mouse Stem Cell Pluripotency Plate is based upon the panel used in the TaqMan® Array 96-well Human Stem Cell Pluripotency Plate. These assays target mouse orthologs to the genes in that panel. Genes were selected in cooperation with the International Stem Cell Initiative (2007 Nature Biotechnology. 25:803-816). The human genes are validated as markers for the characterization of embryonic stem cell identity, and can be used to assess variations between embryonic stem cell isolates. Mouse orthologs of these genes were selected based on the following criteria: 1) Expression in embryonal carcinoma cells, primordial germ cells or embryonic stem cells; 2) Known role in maintenance of pluripotency in embryonic stem cells; 3) Identification in microarray-based experiments as being correlated with the stem cell state. In order to identify cells which have left the pluripotent state, we have also included genes whose expression is characteristic of specific differentiation lineages in the post implantation embryo and mature tissues.