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Osteoarthritis, a chronic disease, remains an issue for adults that causes cartilage degradation within a joint . According to the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention (2023), over 32.5 million adults in the US are affected by osteoarthritis (OA). In this study we seek tounderstand the connection between tissue engineering and genetics to regenerate human articular cartilage (hAC). We purpose to validatea protocol for RNA isolation and characterize the transcriptome of hAC in a tri-layer fashion via bulk RNA sequencing (bulk-RNA-seq).Additionally, we aim to analyze the transcriptome of normal articular cartilage in comparison to the hAC chemical composition and physicalproperties. We are relating these properties to the tri-layers of hAC through histological staining with Safranin O—Fast green and imagingwith differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. We are relating these properties to superfic ial, middle, and deep zone with acryotome procedure, RNA extracted, and qualified by Bioanalyzer. Next, we generate bulk RNA sequencing of hAC layer-by-layer andcompare results to early passaging of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) and tissues intended for Matrix-Induced Autologous ChondrocyteImplantation (MACI). We will use differential gene expression (DE) analysis by DESeq2 R package software for bulk-RNA-seq. The resultwill be interpreted in terms of differentiation from MSCs to gene expression patterns of tri-layer hAC. We will report on development andvalidation of protocols for isolating cells and their subsequent characterization with application in regenerating the tri-layered hACtranscriptome stimulatory bioreactors used in our laboratory and corresponding properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM)