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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
09:03
Profiling Individual Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Quantitative RT-PCR
Published on: May 29, 2014
Differential developmental ability of embryos cloned from tissue-specific stem cells
Kimiko Inoue1, Shinichi Noda, Narumi Ogonuki
1Bioresource Engineering Division, RIKEN Bioresource Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Stem Cells (Dayton, Ohio)
|January 27, 2007
Summary
Neural stem cells (NSCs) show promise for cloning mice via nuclear transfer, with some embryos developing to term. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were unsuccessful due to chromosomal abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Developmental biology
- Stem cell research
Background:
- Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) efficiency varies with nuclear donor cell type.
- Multipotent stem cells are potential candidates for SCNT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate neural stem cells (NSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as nuclear donors for SCNT in mice.
- To compare their developmental potential with previously studied hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and fibroblasts.
Main Methods:
- SCNT using in vitro-derived NSCs and MSCs.
- Assessment of early embryonic development (two-cell to four-cell transition).
- Analysis of zygotically active gene expression.
- Embryo transfer and evaluation of in vivo development.
- Chromosomal analysis of donor cells.
Main Results:
- NSC-derived embryos showed improved survival and gene activation compared to fibroblast controls.
- 1.6% of NSC-derived embryos developed to term fetuses.
- MSC-derived embryos exhibited poor in vitro development and failed to implant.
- MSCs displayed frequent aneuploidy, correlating with developmental failure.
Conclusions:
- In vitro-derived tissue-specific stem cells, like NSCs, can serve as nuclear donors for mouse cloning.
- Developmental success varies significantly among stem cell types (NSCs, MSCs, HSCs).
- Epigenetic and genetic status of donor cells critically influences cloning outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
00:57Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
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01:27Reproductive Cloning
Reproductive cloning is the process of producing a genetically identical copy—a clone—of an entire organism. While clones can be produced by splitting an early embryo—similar to what happens naturally with identical twins—cloning of adult animals is usually done by a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
In SCNT, an egg cell is taken from an animal and its nucleus is removed, creating an enucleated egg. Then a somatic cell—any cell that is not a sex...
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
In SCNT, an egg cell is taken from an animal and its nucleus is removed, creating an enucleated egg. Then a somatic cell—any cell that is not a sex...
01:17Stem Cell Culture
Stem cell research aims to find ways to use stem cells to regenerate and repair cellular damage. Over time, most adult cells undergo the wear and tear of aging and lose their ability to divide and repair themselves. Stem cells do not display a particular morphology or function. Adult stem cells, which exist as a small subset of cells in most tissues, keep dividing and can differentiate into a number of specialized cells generally formed by that tissue. These cells enable the body to renew and...
01:10Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation
The development of all multicellular organisms starts with the fusion of haploid cells called sperm and egg to form a diploid zygote. A zygote is a totipotent cell that can develop into a complete organism. The zygote undergoes cell division or cleavage to form an 8-cell mass. Until this stage, the cells are spherical, loosely attached, and remain totipotent. Totipotent cells are capable of developing both the embryonic and the extraembryonic tissues. However, as they continue to divide, they...
00:57Cellular Differentiation
How does a complex organism such as a human develop from a single cell? It all starts from a single fertilized egg which gives rise to a vast array of cell types, such as nerve cells, muscle cells, and epithelial cells that characterize the adult? Throughout development and adulthood, cellular differentiation leads cells to assume their final morphology and physiology. Differentiation is the process by which unspecialized cells become specialized to carry out distinct functions.
A zygote is a...
A zygote is a...