A method for the generation of a substantially homogeneous population of stem cells and their progenitor or precursor cells is described. More particularly, a population of neural stem cells (NSCs) is described, in particular NSCs and precursor cells with the capacity to differentiate into cells and cell lineages required for the development, maintenance or repair of the central nervous system in an animal such as a non-human mammal. Further described are NSCs and progenitor and/or precursor cells which are capable of proliferation and differentiation into multiple cell lineages, such as neurons, oligodendrocytes, glia and astrocytes. Further contemplated is the use of NSCs and/or precursor cells for the repair or regeneration of tissue, such as tissue associated with the central nervous system, in a non human animal. The NSCs may be used to identify naturally occurring molecules such as cytokines as well as molecules obtained from natural product screening or screening of chemical libraries which induce proliferation of the NSCs. Such molecules are useful in the development of therapeutics.
Method of neural stem cell (NSC) propagation to form a substantially homogenous population, which retains the ability to differentiate into mature cell lineages