Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have a wide application in cell‑based therapies and tissue engineering. In the present study, the differentiation, survivin (SVV)‑modified effects and molecular basis of human umbilical cord‑derived MSCs (HUMSCs) and dental pulp‑derived stem cells (DPSCs) were investigated. The HUMSCs were found to differentiate into adipocytes more readily than the DPSCs and the HUMSCs and DPSCs were each able to differentiate into osteoblasts and chondroblasts. Following modification of the MSCs by SVV, the secretion of SVV in the modified HUMSCs was significantly higher compared with that in the modified DPSCs. In vivo, survival of the SVV‑modified DPSCs was observed at 4 and 14 days after intrastriatal transplantation, as was the expression of SVV and differentiation into astrocytes. The gene expression profiles of the control and modified HUMSCs and DPSCs were compared using RNA sequencing and an association was observed between gene expression and variability in cell line function. These findings provide novel information regarding the differences between HUMSCs and DPSCs and insight into optimal cell sources for therapeutic applications.