The ectopic expression of the key transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf-4 have been shown to reprogram somatic cells to a pluripotent state. In turn these induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, like embryonic stem (ES) cells, have been shown to be able to reprogram somatic cells by cell fusion. In this study we compare the differences and similarities between ES and iPS cells measured...

Over the years, not only have T-cell mediated immune mechanisms of aplastic anemia (AA) involved in AA development started to become better understood, but there is now also a understanding roles played by somatic mutations, cytogenetic abnormalities and defective telomerase functions other genetically-related factors. Somatic gene mutations suggestive clonal hematopoiesis are detected approxim...

Production of genetically identical nonhuman primates would reduce the number of animals required for biomedical research and dramatically impact studies pertaining to immune system function, such as development of the human-immunodeficiency-virus vaccine. Our long-term goal is to develop robust somatic cell cloning and/or twinning protocols in the rhesus macaque. The objective of this study wa...

Somatic embryogenesis is the process by which somatic cells are induced into an embryogenic state, followed by differentiation into embryos. Somatic embryogenesis, in addition to being a method of propagation, can serve as an experimental tool for research into plant embryo development. This is a review of the current literature on in vitro plant somatic embryogenesis and the molecular advances...

Regenerative capacity of mammals is limited and can rarely regenerate a specific organ or tissue fully. Due to these limitations, regenerative medicine seeks efficient and safe cell sources for regeneration of damaged tissues and organs or treatment for incurable diseases. Human embryonic stem cells (HESCs) hold two important properties called self renewal and pluripotency. However, the use of ...

The properties of embryonic hybrid cells obtained by fusion of embryonic stem (ES) or teratocarcinoma (TC) cells with differentiated cells are reviewed. Usually, ES-somatic or TC-somatic hybrids retain pluripotent capacity at high levels quite comparable or nearly identical with those of the pluripotent partner. When cultured in vitro, ES-somatic- and TC-somatic hybrid cell clones, as a rule, l...