1. Potential Applications of Embryonic Stem Cells to Biotechnology and Medicine
Developmental biologist James Thomson in his Primate Research Center lab with a computer image of stem cell neurons at right.
Photo by: Jeff Miller Date: 4/99

2. Embryonic stem (ES) cells are potentially immortal cell lines that can grow in an undifferentiated state, but still retain the ability to give rise to precursor cells to all of the different human cell types.

3. Fertilized egg
Cleavage----> Morula (16 cells)
Blastocyst
about 4 days after fertilization
My reference
and source of
pictures:

4. Trophoblast
Inner Cell Mass
In the mouse, at least 3, but in any case, very
few of the inner mass cells go on to form the
embryo.

5. Three Germ Layers
Endoderm: tongue, tonsils, lining of lungs, digestive tract,
urethra, bladder.
Mesoderm: muscles, bone, lymphatic tissue, spleen, blood
cells, heart, lungs, reproductive and excretory
systems.
Ectoderm: skin, nails, lens of eye, lining of nose, sinuses,
pituitary glands, mammary glands,
all parts of the nervous system.

6. Scientific and Medical Benefits
Source of cells and tissue that could be used for transplantation
Research tool for understanding the complex events that occur during normal human development
Use to develop and test new drugs

10. Legal Issues
Federal law currently prohibits government funding of human embryo research.