Fig. 4: Thy1⁺ cells are a functionally distinct population of basal epidermal stem cells.

a Schematic for induction and harvesting of Thy1 or Ubc dorsal skins. b Division rates of basal Thy1⁺ stem cells (SCs) and Thy1⁻ basal cells (BCs) determined from Thy1-Cre^ERT2;R26^Confetti mice [n = 6 mice]. c Model probability for division symmetries of Thy1⁺ SCs and Thy1⁻ progenitor cells. d Basal clone size distributions at different time points following Thy1⁺ induction [n = 6 mice]. Blue columns represent the experimental data and red columns correspond to the model predictions. e Average basal clone size over time following Thy1⁺ induction [n = 6 mice]. Blue points represent the data taken from 1 to 365 days post induction. Red curve represents model prediction. f Model predictions for number of divisions of Thy1⁺ SCs and transit-amplifying cells at 365 days. (g) Maximum projection image of Ubc-Cre^ERT2;R26^Confetti dorsal epidermis at 10 days post induction showing basal (left panel) and cornified (right panel) sides [n = 3 mice]. h Image of Ubc-Cre^ERT2;R26^Confetti dorsal epidermis at 4 days post induction using low-dose tamoxifen [n = 3 mice]. Arrowhead indicates single induced nGFP⁺ basal cell. i Basal clone size distributions at different time points following random Ubc induction in Ubc-Cre^ERT2;R26^Confetti mice [n = 6 mice]. Blue columns represent the experimental data and red columns correspond to the model predictions. j Average basal clone size over time following Ubc induction [n = 6 mice]. Blue points represent the data at 4, 21, and 84 days post induction. The red curve represents model prediction. All error bars show ±S.E.M. All source data are provided as a Source Data file. Scale bars: 50 μm (g), 10 μm (h).