The epigenetic regulation of gene transcription is emerging as key mechanism by which cells adopt discrete cellular phenotypes. This process is active during development and in adult life, but it also plays a crucial role during induced pluripotency, when coordinated gene repression and activation permits the acquisition of stem cell like phenotypes. Upstream and downstream effectors of epigenetic networks operating during cellular differentiation are the extrinsic signals (e.g., developmental or regenerating cues) and chromatin regulators (e.g., chromatin-modifying enzymes and noncoding RNAs), respectively. The coordinated activity of these effectors imparts a three-dimensional (3D) nuclear organization typical of specific cell types. The recent introduction of high-throughput technologies allows accurate genome-wide analysis of gene expression and is expanding our knowledge on how specific clusters of transcripts are selected during the activation of the diverse differentiation programs. Thus, the combined efforts between functional genomics and cellular biology will help to integrate our knowledge on the complex mechanisms that ensure the execution of the correct differentiation program.

In this issue, we invite researchers to submit research articles as well as review articles addressing how cellular differentiation can be explored integrating more conventional molecular and cellular biology approaches with novel high-throughput genome-wide analysis. Articles addressing the role of epigenetic regulation, nuclear structure, and genome architecture in regulating cellular processes such as stemness, reprogramming, differentiation, and aging are welcome. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Terminal differentiation during development and postnatal life
• Overlapping and distinct pathways in differentiation and aging
• Induced pluripotency and cellular plasticity

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijg/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: