RNA-Seq analysis reveals pluripotency-associated genes and their interaction networks in human embryonic stem cells.

•Transcriptome profiles of human pluripotent and non-pluripotent samples were compared.•Identified 498 pluripotency-associated genes and 432 differentiation markers.•32 genes identified to be critical for pluripotency.•List includes some of the well known stemness genes like NANOG, POU5F1 and LIN28.•We report several genes whose exact molecular function need to be explored.