What Is the Difference between Cord Blood Stem Cells and Embryonic Stem Cells Used in Research?
Embryonic stem cells are a type of stem cell derived from embryos fertilized in an in vitro fertilization clinic. These cells are not derived directly from embryos developing in a woman’s body. The embryos that are used to isolate embryonic stem cells are usually about four or five days old and referred to as blastocysts. The inner cell mass of the blastocyst contains about 30 cells that scientists can isolate and transfer to a culture dish. In this culture dish, the cells divide and proliferate. In only 6 months time, the total number of embryonic stem cells can be in the millions. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, which means they have the ability to give rise to all other cell types in the human body. It is this property that is intriguing to researchers. If it is determined how these cells differentiate into specific cells in the human body, scientists may be able to create cultures of specific cell types. Stem cell transplants using these cells may be the key to successfully t
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