Development of human embryonic stem cell technologies : genetic manipulation and stem cell selection

Human embryonic stem cells, or hESCs, are pluripotent cells isolated from blastocryststage preimplantation embryos that have great potential in basic research, drug development and cell replacement therapy. However, advances in many facets of hESC research have to be attained before these goals can be reached. We describe here the development of two technologies that will aid in this regard: genetic manipulation and stem cell selection.DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (SBS