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Updated: Jul 24, 2026

Dechorionation of Medaka Embryos and Cell Transplantation for the Generation of Chimeras
Published on: December 22, 2010
Transgenic bovine chimeric offspring produced from somatic cell-derived stem-like cells
J B Cibelli1, S L Stice, P J Golueke
1Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, USA.
Scientists created transgenic embryonic stem-like cells from bovine cells using nuclear transfer. These cells successfully differentiated into multiple tissue types in calves, showing potential for cell therapy and differentiation studies.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Science
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Somatic cells are typically terminally differentiated.
- Nuclear transplantation can reprogram cells.
- Generating genetically modified stem cells is crucial for regenerative medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for producing transgenic embryonic stem (ES)-like cells from fetal bovine fibroblasts.
- To assess the differentiation potential of these reprogrammed cells in vivo.
- To evaluate the feasibility of using nuclear transfer for creating genetically modified cells for therapeutic applications.
Main Methods:
- Nuclear transplantation of fetal bovine fibroblasts.
- Production of transgenic embryonic stem (ES)-like cells.
- Reintroduction of modified cells into preimplantation embryos.
- Analysis of chimeric calves for tissue differentiation.
Main Results:
- Successfully produced transgenic ES-like cells from bovine fibroblasts.
- These cells differentiated into ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm derivatives in vivo.
- 86% of resulting calves were chimeric, demonstrating successful integration and differentiation.
- Validated the potential of nuclear transfer for generating pluripotent, genetically modified cells.
Conclusions:
- Nuclear transplantation effectively de-differentiates somatic cells into ES-like cells.
- Genetically modified somatic cells can be reprogrammed and contribute to multiple germ layers.
- This method holds promise for future applications in cell differentiation studies and human cell therapy.
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