Embryonic Stem Cells Research

Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) are Stem Cells derived from inner mass cells of a human Embryo (sometimes called a Blastocyst, which is an early stage Embryo - approximately 1 week old in humans - consisting of 50-150 cells). Embryonic stem cells are Totipotent, meaning they are able to grow (i.e. differentiate) into all derivatives of the three primary Germ layers: Ectoderm, Endoderm and Mesoderm. In other words, they can develop into each of the more than 200 cell types of the adult body as long as they are specified to do so. This characteristic property distinguishes Embryonic stem cells from adult Stem Cells or progenitor cells, the latter two of which only have the capacity to form a limited number of different cell types. Because of their unique combined abilities of unlimited expansion and pluripotency, Embryonic stem cells potentially are the ultimate source for Regenerative Medicine and tissue replacement after injury or disease. To date, no medical treatments have been successfully derived from embryonic stem cell research as the first Human Embryonic Stem Cell Line has only been reported in 1998.