Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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...

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.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

False-positive <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</i> results on the Abbott Alinity m STI assay caused by <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i>: two cases from Australia.

Journal of clinical microbiology·2026

Same author

The RNA-binding activity of the <i>Drosophila</i> Brat protein is necessary for viability and mRNA regulation.

RNA biology·2026

Same author

Supporting Survivor-Centered Care Through Digital Health Integration.

Pediatric blood & cancer·2026

Same author

Upper Limb Peripheral Nerve Injuries Associated With Subdermal Contraceptive Implants: A Case Series, Systematic Review, and Proposed Evidence-based Treatment Algorithm.

Annals of plastic surgery·2026

Same author

RNA-binding is the essential biological function of the <i>Drosophila</i> protein Brat.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Cardiopulmonary Consequences of Scoliosis and the Clinical Implications of VO<sub>2</sub>max: A Systematic Review.

Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Profiling Individual Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Quantitative RT-PCR

Profiling Individual Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Quantitative RT-PCR

Published on: May 29, 2014

Phenotypic analysis of human embryonic stem cells.

Mark Ungrin¹, Michael O'Connor, Connie Eaves

¹IBBME, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology

|September 12, 2008

Summary

Assessing human embryonic stem cell (hESC) pluripotency requires reliable assays. This study details various methods, including flow cytometry and PCR, to measure the undifferentiated state of hESCs for regenerative medicine applications.

More Related Videos

Differentiation and Characterization of Neural Progenitors and Neurons from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Differentiation and Characterization of Neural Progenitors and Neurons from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: May 15, 2020

Phenotypic Profiling of Human Stem Cell-Derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons

Phenotypic Profiling of Human Stem Cell-Derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons

Published on: July 7, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Profiling Individual Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Quantitative RT-PCR

Profiling Individual Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Quantitative RT-PCR

Published on: May 29, 2014

Differentiation and Characterization of Neural Progenitors and Neurons from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Differentiation and Characterization of Neural Progenitors and Neurons from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: May 15, 2020

Phenotypic Profiling of Human Stem Cell-Derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons

Phenotypic Profiling of Human Stem Cell-Derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons

Published on: July 7, 2023

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Stem Cell Biology
Regenerative Medicine

Background:

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are crucial for studying development and hold potential for regenerative medicine.
Currently, no definitive assay exists to directly measure hESC pluripotency.
Surrogate assays are employed to assess markers correlated with developmental potential.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a comprehensive range of protocols for measuring the undifferentiated state of hESCs.
To evaluate the advantages and limitations of various quantitative and qualitative assays.
To provide insights into potential challenges and expected results for these protocols.

Main Methods:

Visual inspection of cell morphology.
Flow cytometry for cell surface marker analysis.
Immunofluorescence staining for pluripotency markers.
Quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) for gene expression.
Colony-forming unit assay to assess differentiation potential.

Main Results:

Each method offers distinct advantages and limitations in assessing hESC undifferentiation.
Quantitative assays, like qRT-PCR, are critical for robust evaluation.
Careful protocol selection and interpretation are necessary for accurate assessment.

Conclusions:

Developing robust, quantitative assays for hESC developmental potential is essential.
These assays are vital for advancing our understanding of hESC biology.
Standardized methods will facilitate the use of hESCs in research and regenerative medicine.