Chapter 8. Embryonic Stem Cells: A Perspective
- Gregory Bock Organizer,
- Jamie Goode
Published Online: 7 OCT 2008
DOI: 10.1002/0470091452.ch8
Copyright © Novartis Foundation 2005
Book Title
Stem Cells: Nuclear Reprogramming and Therapeutic Applications: Novartis Foundation Symposium 265
Additional Information
How to Cite
Evans, M. (2008) Embryonic Stem Cells: A Perspective, in Stem Cells: Nuclear Reprogramming and Therapeutic Applications: Novartis Foundation Symposium 265 (eds G. Bock and J. Goode), John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK. doi: 10.1002/0470091452.ch8
Publication History
- Published Online: 7 OCT 2008
- Published Print: 18 MAR 2005
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9780470091432
Online ISBN: 9780470091456
- Summary
- Chapter
Keywords:
- embryonic stem (ES) cells;
- tissue-culture cells;
- stem cell population;
- mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells;
- leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF);
- GSK-3 function;
- genetic engineering;
- therapeutic tissue engineering
Summary
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are proliferating tissue-culture cells which are embryonic in origin and retain the full lineage and differentiative capacity of the early mammalian embryo. Only mouse ES cells have been fully characterized but similar cultures have been isolated from numbers of other mammalian embryos including, notably, human. ES cells can differentiate either in vivo in the context of an embryo or equivalently in vitro. Their ability to undergo genetic alteration and selection in vitro followed by embryonic development in vivo has led to their extensive use as a vector for mammalian genetic engineering. This is not an application for human ES cells but their ability to differentiate in vitro into a plethora of specific tissue precursors has led to scenarios for their use in cellular and tissue engineering therapies. Ethical and practical problems for the provision of ad hominem human ES cells remain. Knowledge from the mouse system may aid our understanding of the relationship between ES cells and embryos.