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Related Concept Videos

Embryonic Stem Cells00:58

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 Cells00:57

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...

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Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development
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Published on: January 26, 2013

Blimp1 expression predicts embryonic stem cell development in vitro.

Li-Fang Chu1, M Azim Surani, Rudolf Jaenisch

  • 1Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|October 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can be derived from Blimp1-positive precursors, which resemble early germ cells. However, this germ cell-like state is not essential for generating ESCs in vitro.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • The process of generating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from the inner cell mass (ICM) is not fully understood.
  • Blimp1 is a key transcriptional repressor involved in germ cell specification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Blimp1-positive cells in ESC derivation.
  • To determine if a germ cell-like state is necessary for ESC generation.

Main Methods:

  • Single-cell gene expression profiling of ICM-generated cells.
  • In vitro genetic tracing of Blimp1-positive cells.
  • Fate-mapping experiments.
  • ESC derivation assays with and without Blimp1-positive cells.

Main Results:

  • Blimp1-positive cells, expressing germ cell markers, emerge early in blastocyst culture.
  • These Blimp1-positive cells acquire primordial germ cell-like properties in vitro.
  • ESCs frequently arise from Blimp1-positive precursors, and their isolation enhances ESC derivation by over 9-fold.
  • Epiblast cells can form ESCs without prior Blimp1 expression.

Conclusions:

  • The germ cell-like state is facultative, not obligatory, for in vitro pluripotency stabilization.
  • Understanding Blimp1's role clarifies ESC generation and suggests methods to improve stem cell line derivation.