The researchers injected human stem cells into a mouse embryo, which then generated millions of mature human cells as it developed. Stem cells are divided into two main forms – embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Meanwhile, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to be more like embryonic stem cells. Previously, the disease-curing potential of human stem cells has been thwarted by the inability to produce sufficient quantities of mature human cells in vivo – in a living organism. Researchers injected 10 to 12 immature human stem cells into a mouse blastocyst – an early-stage embryo – which then generated millions of mature human cells, including red blood cells, eye cells and liver cells, as it developed.

Source: Daily Mail May 13, 2020 18:01 UTC