Question

Where are the stem cells located in this embryo?

Answer 1

Embryonic stem cells (ES cells or ESCs) are pluripotent in nature. They are derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst. The human embryos reach the blastocyst stage around 4–5 days post fertilization, at which period they comprise nearly 50–150 cells. A blastocyst is an early-stage pre-implantation embryo.

Complete step by step answer:
- Pluripotency is the ability to differentiate to generate primitive ectoderm, which differentiates during gastrulation into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm.
- These germ layers in turn generate each of the more than 220 cell types in the human body.
- The stem cells initially form precursor cells that differentiate into the desired cell types.
- Due to the plasticity of these stem cells and the unlimited capacity to self- renew, embryonic stem cell therapies have been proposed for regenerative medicine and tissue replacement after injury or disease.
- Pluripotent stem cells have shown promise in treating a number of varying conditions.
- Corrections of disorders with loss of normal cells- diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease can be achieved through appropriate cell therapy.
- Engineering and replacement of various tissues can also be achieved via embryonic stem cells.
- Stem cells are nowadays engaged for the discovery of new drugs and for testing the safety of drugs.
- Human developmental studies are done through stem cell experiments.

Note:
- There are various serious ethical, legal, and political issues surrounding human ES cell research.
- There are enormous technical difficulties in stem cell research.
- The lack of tissue- specific differentiation markers may be a characteristic feature of stem cells.