Generation of embryonic stem cells: limitations of and alternatives to inner cell mass harvest.
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of the early mammalian embryo. Because of their plasticity and potentially unlimited capacity for self-renewal, ES cells have generated tremendous interest both as models for developmental biology and as possible tools for regenerative medicine. This excitement has been attenuated, however, by scientific, political, and ethical considerations. In this article the authors describe somatic cell nuclear transfer and transcription-induced pluripotency, 2 techniques that have been used in attempts to circumvent the need to derive ES cells by the harvest of embryonic tissue.
Das
Sunit
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. s-das@md.northwestern.edu
Bonaguidi
Michael
M
Muro
Kenji
K
Kessler
John A
JA
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods