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Germ cell formation from embryonic stem cells and the use of somatic cell nuclei in oocytes
Author(s) -
Pelosi Emanuele,
Forabosco Antonino,
Schlessinger David
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.05982.x
Subject(s) - somatic cell , embryonic stem cell , biology , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , induced pluripotent stem cell , germ cell , homeobox protein nanog , embryoid body , reprogramming , germline , genetics , adult stem cell , cell , gene
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have remarkable properties of pluripotency and self‐renewal, along with the retention of chromosomal integrity. Germ cells function as a kind of “transgenerational stem cells,” transmitting genetic information from one generation to the next. The formation of putative primordial germ cells (PGCs) and germ cells from mouse and human ESCs (hESCs) has, in fact, been shown, and the apparent derivation of functional mouse male gametes has also been described. Additionally, investigators have successfully reprogrammed somatic nuclei into a pluripotent state by inserting them into ESCs or oocytes. This would enable the generation of ESCs genetically identical to the somatic cell donor and their use in cell therapy. However, these methodologies are still inefficient and their mechanisms poorly understood. Until full comprehension of these processes is obtained, clinical applications remain remote. Nevertheless, they represent promising tools in the future, enhancing methods of therapeutic cloning and infertility treatment.