Stem-cell line

By definition, stem cells possess two properties: (1) they can self-renew, which means that they can divide indefinitely while remaining in an undifferentiated state; and (2) they are pluripotent or multipotent, which means that they can differentiate to form specialized cell types.

Primary cells cannot divide indefinitely and thus cannot be cultured for long periods of time in vitro.

In the derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines, embryos left over from in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures are used.

[4] Identifying methods for maintaining hematopoietic stem cells in vitro is an active area of research.

Stem-cell lines are grown and maintained at specific temperature and atmospheric conditions (37 degrees Celsius and 5% CO2) in incubators.

Examples of conditions that researchers are working to develop stem-cell-based treatments for include neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and spinal cord injuries.

Stem-cell in-vitro Stem cells could be used as an ideal in vitro platform to study developmental changes at the molecular level.

These studies are gaining more attention recently since they can be optimised and relevant to modelling neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors.

[10] The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines on Human Stem Cell Research, effective July 7, 2009, implemented the Executive Order 13505 by establishing criteria which hESC lines must meet to be approved for funding.

Access and utility are cited as the two primary factors influencing what hESC lines scientists choose to work with.

[15] Another study tracked cell-line requests fulfilled from the largest US repositories, the National Stem Cell Bank (NSCB) and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI; Cambridge, MA, USA), for the periods March 1999 – December 2008 (for NSCB) and April 2004 – December 2008 (for HSCI).