Stem cells make for hot news. Debates over the ethics of using human embryonic stem cells in research have topped headlines, and current research into the plasticity of adult stem cells has raised hopes that these cells could be a suitable replacement for their embryonic counterparts in a number of therapeutic applications. But often overlooked is the fact that stem cells are tough to grow. They are much less forgiving than regular cell lines, and so greater attention must be paid to their culturing. As it happens, the tools and techniques used by stem cell researchers represent an interesting twist to conventional cell culture.
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs), are derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, the developmental stage of the embryo prior to its implantation in the uterine wall. What distinguishes ESCs from other types of cells is their ability to differentiate into cells from all three ...
