Methods of predicting dopamine production capability of differentiated neuronal cells

A method of predicting whether neuronal cells derived from a population of neuronal progenitor cells will produce dopamine, the method comprising:

• (a) determining a gene expression level for one or more genes associated with predicted dopamine production capability (D genes) in a test sample that comprises a population of neuronal progenitor cells, wherein the one or more D genes are selected from the group consisting of:
• CNTNAP5, KLHL1, NHLH2, GREM2, BRINP2, GRIN3A, LRRC4C, IRX3, CPNE4, PTPN3, PMEL, PCDH20, LRRC37A2, TMEM246, B3GALNT1, ZHX1, BCAS4, SLC25A37, GRINA, MID1, FRMD4A, PARP10, WHAMMP2, EYA1, CORO2B, WHAMMP3, B3GALT5, GPR35, ABCD2, ITIH3, AC107464.1, CAMK2N1, CAMK2A, PRPS1, GOLGA6L10, AMOT, SULT1A1, CD83, SPON1, FRMPD3, AC096570.1, TCAF2, GOLGA8M, VWA5B2, CA8, AC017050.1, KRT77, AP000350.6, LINC02751, and ARHGAP5-AS1;
• and
• (b) comparing the expression level of each of the one or more D genes in the test population of neuronal progenitor cells to a predetermined threshold value for the particular D gene, wherein high predicted dopamine production capability of the neuronal progenitor cells is indicated if the expression level is either:
• (c) above the predetermined threshold value for that D gene;
• or
• (d) below the predetermined threshold value for that D gene;
• wherein “above” or “below” is defined by the known biological relevance of the G gene in the context of predicted dopamine production capability.