Let
Q be a finite quiver without oriented cycles and
be the coefficient-free cluster algebra with initial seed
. Using the Caldero-Chapoton map, we introduce and investigate a family of generic variables in
containing the cluster monomials of
. The aim of these generic variables is to give an explicit new method for
... [Show full abstract] constructing -bases in the cluster algebra . If Q is an affine quiver with minimal imaginary root , we investigate differences between cluster characters associated to indecomposable representations of dimension vector . We define the notion of \emph{difference property} which gives an explicit description of these differences. We prove in particular that this property holds for quivers of affine type . When Q satisfies the difference property, we prove that generic variables span the cluster algebra . If satisfies some gradability condition, we prove that generic variables are linearly independent over in . In particular, this implies that generic variables form a -basis in a cluster algebra associated to an affine quiver of type . Comment: 63 pages. v2: Title changed since the first part of this article can now be found as an independent article under the initial title