Stem cells can be created through various methods, but generating embryonic stem cell lines involves a specific process using a blastocyst.
The process of creating an embryonic stem cell line involves the following steps:
- Isolation of the Inner Cell Mass: A researcher carefully removes the outer layer of a five-day-old blastocyst (an early-stage embryo).
- Culturing the Cells: The remaining portion, containing the inner cell mass, is placed in a laboratory dish.
- Provision of Growth Factors: This dish contains specific growth factors that enable the cells of the inner cell mass to grow and thrive.
- Stem Cell Line Establishment: These cells proliferate and eventually form the basis of a new embryonic stem cell line.
This resulting cell line comprises embryonic stem cells, which have the capacity to differentiate into any cell type in the body, making them valuable for research and potential therapeutic applications.
