title: The decision on the "optimal" human pluripotent stem cell.
abstract: Because of recent advances, the array of human pluripotent stem cells now contains embryonic stem cells, derived from "surplus" in vitro fertilization embryos or from cloned embryos; induced pluripotent stem cells; and amniotic fluid stem cells. Here, we compare these stem cell types regarding ethical and legal concerns, cultivation conditions, genomic stability, tumor developing potentials, and applicability for disease modeling and human therapy. This overview highlights that in the future appropriate methodological management must include a decision on the "optimal" stem cell to use before the specific application.
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosner
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schipany
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hengstschläger
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D026688:Bioethical Issues; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods