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Derivation of Germ Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells

  • Conference paper
Stem Cells in Reproduction and in the Brain

Part of the book series: Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop ((SCHERING FOUND,volume 60))

Abstract

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs), derivatives of cells of early mammalian embryos, have proven to be one of the most powerful tools in developmental and stem cell biology. When injected into embryos, ESCs can contribute to tissues derived from all three germ layers and to the germline. Prior studies have successfully shown that ESCs can recapitulate features of embryonic development by spontaneously forming somatic lineages in culture. Amazingly, recently it has been shown that mouse ESCs can also give rise to primordial germ cells (PGCs) in culture that are capable of undergoing meiosis and forming both male and female gametes. While the full potential of these ES-derived germ cells and gametes remains to be demonstrated, these discoveries provide a new approach for studying reproductive biology and medicine.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Germline Development Group, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA

    J. Kehler

  2. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Mendelstr. 7, 48149, Münster, Germany

    K. Hübner

  3. Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Mendelstr. 7, 48149, Münster, Germany

    H. R. Schöler

Authors
  1. J. Kehler
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  2. K. Hübner
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  3. H. R. Schöler
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nihon Schering K.K. Research Center, BMA 3F, 1-5-5 Minatojima-minai-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan

    J. Morser

  2. Center for Developmental Biology, 2-2-3 Minatojima minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan

    S. -I. Nishikawa

  3. Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Mendelstr. 7, 48149, Münster, Germany

    H. R. Schöler

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© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kehler, J., Hübner, K., Schöler, H.R. (2006). Derivation of Germ Cells from Embryonic Stem Cells. In: Morser, J., Nishikawa, S.I., Schöler, H.R. (eds) Stem Cells in Reproduction and in the Brain. Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop, vol 60. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31437-7_10

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