Optimization of bovine embryonic stem cell myogenesis for clean beef production

PhD defence by Jesse James Westfall

Assessment Committee

[Professor Kristine Freude, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Dr Esben Østrup, H. Lundbeck A/S
Associate professor Fabiana Fernandes Bressan, College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo

Supervisors

Associate Professor Jan Bojsen-Møller Secher
Johan Ulrik Lind

Department

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Graduate Programme

Cellular and Genetic Medicine

Place

The defence is conducted as a hybrid defence.

To attend the defence in person:
Building: 1-04, Room: 1-04-01,
Grønnegårdsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg

To attend the defence online:
Please follow the link to attend the defence online: https://ucph-ku.zoom.us/j/66566674092
MeetingID, if relevant: 665 6667 4092

Email address to gain access to the thesis: jjwe@sund.ku.dk.
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.
Recipients of copies of the thesis are not allowed to share or distribute it due to copyright compliance.

Short description of the thesis

This PhD project explores the use of bovine embryonic stem cells as a platform for future clean beef production. Stem cell lines were derived from slaughterhouse-derived bovine embryos produced by in vitro fertilization and guided through stepwise differentiation protocols inspired by embryonic muscle development. The work demonstrates that bovine stem cells can generate myogenic progenitors and muscle fiber-like structures in vitro, while also revealing clear cell line-specific differences in differentiation bias and myogenic competence. The thesis highlights the importance of aligning developmental biology and culture engineering to advance scalable cultivated beef systems.