Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T05:49:46.289Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 37 - From pluripotent stem cells to germ cells

from Section 9 - Future technologies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2011

By
Rosita Bergström  and
Outi Hovatta
Edited by
Jacques Donnez  and
S. Samuel Kim
Jacques Donnez
Affiliation:
Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium
S. Samuel Kim
Affiliation:
University of Kansas
Get access

Summary

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are pluripotent, meaning that they have the ability to give rise to a wide range of cells belonging to all three germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm) as well as into germline lineage. The DNA code is more or less the same in all the cells of the human body. What differs is the way this code is utilized or, in other words, which combinations of genes that are active in a specific cell at a given time. The development of germ cells is a highly ordered process that begins during fetal growth and is completed in the adult. Due to their plasticity and potentially unlimited capacity for self-renewal, hESCs have been popular candidates for various cell therapies, including regenerative medicine and tissue replacement. The use of stem cells has provided a research tool to study development and disease in details never before possible.

Keywords

clinical oocyte cryostoragecryopreserve oocytescryoprotectantvitrificationhuman assisted reproductionhuman embryo cryopreservation protocols
Type
Chapter
Information
Principles and Practice of Fertility Preservation , pp. 440 - 447
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×