ABSTRACT
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), are derived from early embryos and typically the blastocyst’s inner cell mass, can be propagated indefinitely in vitro, have a normal karyotype, and are pluripotent. Thus, these stem cells can differentiate into progeny from all three germ layers both in vitro and in vivo. When engrafted into immune deficient mice, hESCs develop into teratoma tumors with mesoderm, endoderm, and ectoderm tissue components.1,2 Given their unique properties, hESCs can be utilized for the study of early human development, drug discovery, and as a renewable source of human cells for transplantation therapy.3
