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Related Concept Videos

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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Generation of Human Primordial Germ Cell-like Cells at the Surface of Embryoid Bodies from Primed-pluripotency Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
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Germline competency of human embryonic stem cells depends on eomesodermin.

Di Chen1, Wanlu Liu2, Anastasia Lukianchikov1

  • 1Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Biology of Reproduction
|November 2, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Human embryonic stem cells can differentiate into primordial germ cells (PGCs). Primitive streak gene expression and specific signaling pathways, including TGFβ and WNT, are crucial for this PGC development.

Keywords:
EOMESembryonic stem cellshumanprimordial germ cells

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Primordial germ cell (PGC) specification is critical for human reproduction.
  • Molecular mechanisms governing human PGC formation are largely unknown.
  • PGC specification occurs during a narrow window in early embryogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms of human PGC formation from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).
  • To identify factors associated with germline competency in hESCs.
  • To explore the role of signaling pathways and gene expression in PGC-like cell (PGCLC) differentiation.

Main Methods:

  • Compared PGCLC differentiation across 18 independently derived hESC lines.
  • Analyzed the association between primitive streak gene expression and germline competency.
  • Utilized chemical inhibition of TGFβ and WNT signaling.
  • Employed CRISPR/Cas9 to delete Eomesodermin (EOMES).

Main Results:

  • Expression of primitive streak genes positively correlated with hESC germline competency.
  • Inhibition of TGFβ and WNT signaling significantly impacted PGCLC differentiation.
  • CRISPR/Cas9 deletion of EOMES also significantly affected PGCLC differentiation.
  • Identified a link between somatic germ layer induction pathways and PGC formation.

Conclusions:

  • Human PGC formation is associated with primitive streak gene expression.
  • TGFβ, WNT signaling, and EOMES are critical for PGCLC differentiation from hESCs.
  • Human PGC development involves conserved signaling and transcriptional programs.