Chapter 5, Problem 7DQ

Summary Introduction

To review:

The possibility that naïve human ESCs can be isolated and maintained. The ethical concerns could such studies raise.

Introduction:

The developmental stages of the original inner cell mass (ICM) from which the cultures were derived has led to recognition of two different pluripotent states of an ESC: naïve and primed. The naive Embryonic Stem Cell (ESC) represents the most immature, undifferentiated ESC with the potential for pluripotency. The primed Embryonic Stem Cell (ESC) represents an ICM cell with some maturation during post-implantation development.