Human Embryonic Stem Cells: An Introduction to the Science and Therapeutic Potential

Part I - The Basics

Chapter 1 - The Nature of Stem Cells
Overview
Adult Stem Cells
Fetal Tissue Stem Cells
Sidebar: Bone Marrow Transplantation: E. Donnell Thomas
Embryonic Stem Cells
Nuclear Transfer Stem Cells
Human Cloning

Chapter 2 - The Dividing Cell
Overview
The Cell Cycle
Stimulating Cell Division
Molecular Biology of the Cell Cycle
Sidebar: Cell Cycle Regulators: Lee Hartwell, Paul Nurse, and
Tim Hunt

Part II - Egg Specific Functions

Chapter 3 - The Egg
Overview
Egg Growth
Oocyte Meiosis
Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Molecular Biology of Oocyte Meiosis
Sidebar: cMos Activiity: Metaphase II Arrest

Chapter 4 - The Activated Egg
Overview
Spontaneous Egg Activation
Artificial Egg Activation
Egg Activation by Sperm
Sidebar: Activation of Human Eggs: In Vitro Fertilization and
Cleavage of Human Ovarian Eggs
Egg Activation Following Nuclear Transplantation
Molecular Biology of Egg Activation

Chapter 5 - The Zygote
Overview
The Pronuclear Stage Egg
Manipulation of the Zygote
Parthenotes
Haploid Parthenotes
Sidebar: Transgenic Mice: Introduction of Foreign
Genes in Zygotes
Diploid Parthenotes
Molecular Biology of Zygotes

Chapter 6 - Blastomere Cleavage
Overview
The First Cleavage
The Second Cleavage
Fragmented Cleavages
The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Cleavages
Embryo Development in Laboratory Conditions
Sidebar: Development of Tissue Culture Media
Molecular Biology of Blastomere Cleavage

Chapter 7 - Basic Nuclear Transfer Technology
Overview
Transfer of Nuclei into Frog Eggs
Sidebar: Development Potential of Transplanted Nuclei
Gene Expression: Transcription and Translation
Transcription and Translation in Frog Eggs
Reprogramming a Nucleus

Part III - Embryonic Stem Cells

Chapter 8 - The Blastocyst and Inner Cell Mass Cells
Overview
Equivalence Groups
The Blastocyst
Primitive Endoderm
Implantation
Blastocyst Development In Vitro
Embryonic Stem Cells
Chimeras
Sidebar: Knockout Mice

Chapter 9 - Organogenesis
Overview
The Second Week
The Third Week
The Fourth Week
Fifth and Sixth Weeks
Primordial Germ Cell Migration
Fetal Tissue Stem Cells
Sidebar: Primordial Germ Cells and Embryonal
Carcinoma Cells

Chapter 10 - Mammalian Nuclear Transfer Technologies
Overview
Transplantation of Embryonic Nuclei into Fertilized Eggs
Nuclear Transplantation and the Cell Cycle of Fertilized Eggs
Transplantation of Embryonic Nuclei into Unfertilized Eggs
Transplantation of Somatic Cell Nuclei into Unfertilized Eggs
Animal Cloning
Challenges in Human Therapeutic Cloning
Sidebar: Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer in Humans: Pronuclear
Early Embryonic Development

Chapter 11 - Stem Cell Differentiation
Overview
Adult Stem Cells
Fetal Stem Cells
Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Human Parthenote Stem Cells