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Maintenance of the ES Cell State

Maintenance of the ES Cell State

The cells of the blastocyst inner cell mass only remain pluripotent for a short time. This state of pluripotency and self-renewal can be maintained in embryonic stem (ES) cell culture by adding specific chemicals or growth factors to ensure the cells can continue dividing and later differentiate into different cell types. In some cases, the cells are grown on a feeder layer of differentiated cells, which provides the growth factors and extracellular matrix components necessary for stem cell...

Source And Potency Of Stem Cells

Source And Potency Of Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with extensive self-renewal properties that help them maintain their population during the fetal and adult stages of life. They can specialize in all cell types of the human body. However, their differential potential may vary and can be classified into five types. Stem cells can be (1) Totipotent, (2) Pluripotent, (3) Multipotent, (4) Oligopotent, and (5) Unipotent. Each stem cell has a specific origin; the fertilized egg or zygote is a totipotent cell and...

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic 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.

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic 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...

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore called induced pluripotent stem...

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Oct4GiP Reporter Assay to Study Genes that Regulate Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Maintenance and Self-renewal

Oct4GiP Reporter Assay to Study Genes that Regulate Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Maintenance and Self-renewal

Published on: May 30, 2012

Understanding pluripotency--how embryonic stem cells keep their options open.

B V Johnson¹, N Shindo, P D Rathjen

¹School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.

Molecular Human Reproduction

|August 22, 2008

Summary

Embryonic stem cells offer a promising source for regenerative medicine due to their self-renewal and differentiation capabilities. Harnessing their potential through controlled differentiation and cell reprogramming could lead to patient-specific therapies for disease and aging.

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A Simple Method to Identify Kinases That Regulate Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by High-throughput Inhibitor Screening

A Simple Method to Identify Kinases That Regulate Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by High-throughput Inhibitor Screening

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Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Oct4GiP Reporter Assay to Study Genes that Regulate Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Maintenance and Self-renewal

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Published on: May 30, 2012

Chemical Reversion of Conventional Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to a Naïve-like State with Improved Multilineage Differentiation Potency

Chemical Reversion of Conventional Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to a Naïve-like State with Improved Multilineage Differentiation Potency

Published on: June 10, 2018

A Simple Method to Identify Kinases That Regulate Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by High-throughput Inhibitor Screening

A Simple Method to Identify Kinases That Regulate Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency by High-throughput Inhibitor Screening

Published on: May 12, 2017

Area of Science:

Stem cell biology
Regenerative medicine
Cellular reprogramming

Background:

Embryonic stem (ES) cells possess indefinite proliferation and pluripotency.
This makes them a potential source for cell replacement therapies.
Understanding ES cell biology is crucial for therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the potential of embryonic stem cells for treating disease and aging.
To understand the molecular mechanisms governing ES cell proliferation and differentiation.
To develop strategies for controlled differentiation and cell reprogramming.

Main Methods:

Culturing embryonic stem cells indefinitely.
Inducing controlled differentiation of ES cells.
Investigating molecular processes underlying ES cell pluripotency.
Exploring technologies for somatic cell reprogramming to an ES cell-like state.

Main Results:

Embryonic stem cells can be cultured indefinitely while retaining differentiation potential.
Understanding molecular processes allows for strategies to control differentiation.
Controlled differentiation and cell reprogramming show promise for future therapies.

Conclusions:

Embryonic stem cells are a valuable resource for regenerative medicine.
Controlling ES cell differentiation and reprogramming is key to therapeutic development.
Patient-derived pluripotent cell lines offer future treatment possibilities for disease.