Embryonic Stem Cells

Abstract

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent stem cells derived from a preimplantation embryo. ESCs are distinguished by two major properties: their pluripotency (the ability to differentiate into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers) and their ability to replicate indefinitely under defined conditions. Human ESCs (hESCs) can be used to study early human development and genetic disease and for in vitro toxicology testing. Because of their plasticity and potentially unlimited capacity for self-renewal, clinical-grade hESC therapies have been proposed for tissue replacement after injury or disease. In this chapter we summarize the process of hESC derivation, discuss characterization (the standard tests that are performed during the cell culture process to check that the cells exhibit the fundamental properties that make them ESCs), and provide examples of protocols that are used to induce hESCs to differentiate into specific cell types.