[Teratoma and the mammalian embryo]

Summary

Teratomas, tumors found in mammalian ovaries or testes, contain diverse cell types. Research suggests these cells can be therapeutically reprogrammed for normal differentiation, enabling novel biological therapies.

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Cleavage and Blastulation01:33

Cleavage and Blastulation

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Gastrulation01:56

Gastrulation

Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata will form...
Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation01:10

Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation

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Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...