Embryonic stem cell

Human embryonic stem cells in cell culture
Pluripotent: Embryonic stem cells are able to develop into any type of cell, excepting those of the placenta. Only embryonic stem cells of the morula are totipotent: able to develop into any type of cell, including those of the placenta.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage pre-implantation embryo.[1][2] Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50–150 cells. Isolating the inner cell mass (embryoblast) using immunosurgery results in destruction of the blastocyst, a process which raises ethical issues, including whether or not embryos at the pre-implantation stage have the same moral considerations as embryos in the post-implantation stage of development.[3][4]

Researchers are currently focusing heavily on the therapeutic potential of embryonic stem cells, with clinical use being the goal for many laboratories.[2] Potential uses include the treatment of diabetes and heart disease.[2] The cells are being studied to be used as clinical therapies, models of genetic disorders, and cellular/DNA repair. However, adverse effects in the research and clinical processes such as tumors and unwanted immune responses have also been reported.[5]

  1. ^ Thomson; Itskovitz-Eldor, J; Shapiro, SS; Waknitz, MA; Swiergiel, JJ; Marshall, VS; Jones, JM (1998). "Blastocysts Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Derived from Human". Science. 282 (5391): 1145–1147. Bibcode:1998Sci...282.1145T. doi:10.1126/science.282.5391.1145. PMID 9804556.
  2. ^ a b c "Stem Cell Basics | STEM Cell Information". stemcells.nih.gov. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  3. ^ Baldwing A (2009). "Morality and human embryo research. Introduction to the Talking Point on morality and human embryo research". EMBO Reports. 10 (4): 299–300. doi:10.1038/embor.2009.37. PMC 2672902. PMID 19337297.
  4. ^ Nakaya, Andrea C. (August 1, 2011). Biomedical ethics. San Diego, CA: ReferencePoint Press. pp. 96. ISBN 978-1601521576.
  5. ^ Carla A Herberts; Marcel SG Kwa; Harm PH Hermsen (2011). "Risk factors in the development of stem cell therapy". Journal of Translational Medicine. 9 (29): 29. doi:10.1186/1479-5876-9-29. PMC 3070641. PMID 21418664.