Aging is a complex process and one aspect of age-related decline in tissue homeostasis is the reduction in the regenerative potential of stem cells. We are interested in the role quiescence has on the long-term maintenance of stem cell populations by utilizing melanocyte stem cells. Using bioinformatic analysis and multiple mouse models of melanocyte stem cell loss. We have begun to unravel the underlying transcriptional network governing this dormant cellular state and how changes during dormancy can have long lasting effects on this stem cell population months and even years later.