Balkan Journal of Medical Genetics

STEM CELLS – A BASIS FOR THERAPY IN THE FUTURE
Yosifova A, Toncheva D*
*Corresponding Author: Professor Draga Toncheva, Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University Sofia, 2 Zdrave str, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria; Tel./Fax: +359-2-952-03-57; E-mail: dragatoncheva@yahoo.com
page: 3

INTRODUCTION

The discovery of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells in 1981 [1,2] provided the paradigm and much of the technology for the discovery of human embryonic stem cells. Research on ES cells evolved out of work on mouse teratocarcinomas that consist of a remarkable array of somatic tissues juxtaposed together in a disorganized fashion. The origin of such tumors from germ cells in mice provided the concept of a stem cell (the embryonal carcinoma or EC cell) that can give rise to the multiple types of tissue found in tumors [3]. This field of research expanded considerably with the generation of chimaeric mice by blastocyst injection of EC cells [4]. However, these cells contained chromosomal abnormalities and often had a limited capacity to differentiate into multiple tissue types [5]. Since teratocarcinomas can also be induced by grafting blastocysts to ectopic sites, it was reasoned [2], that it might be possible to derive pluripotent cell lines directly from blastocysts rather than from tumors. Evans and Kaufman [1] and Martin [2] independently obtained a cell line with properties of mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells including pluripotency, cell morphology, and the ability to form teratocarcinomas when injected into mice. The first human ES cells were isolated in 1998 from embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) [6].

Number 27 VOL. 27 (2), 2024	Number 27 VOL. 27 (1), 2024
Number 26 Number 26 VOL. 26(2), 2023 All in one	Number 26 VOL. 26(2), 2023
Number 26 VOL. 26, 2023 Supplement	Number 26 VOL. 26(1), 2023
Number 25 VOL. 25(2), 2022	Number 25 VOL. 25 (1), 2022
Number 24 VOL. 24(2), 2021	Number 24 VOL. 24(1), 2021
Number 23 VOL. 23(2), 2020	Number 22 VOL. 22(2), 2019
Number 22 VOL. 22(1), 2019	Number 22 VOL. 22, 2019 Supplement
Number 21 VOL. 21(2), 2018	Number 21 VOL. 21 (1), 2018
Number 21 VOL. 21, 2018 Supplement	Number 20 VOL. 20 (2), 2017
Number 20 VOL. 20 (1), 2017	Number 19 VOL. 19 (2), 2016
Number 19 VOL. 19 (1), 2016	Number 18 VOL. 18 (2), 2015
Number 18 VOL. 18 (1), 2015	Number 17 VOL. 17 (2), 2014
Number 17 VOL. 17 (1), 2014	Number 16 VOL. 16 (2), 2013
Number 16 VOL. 16 (1), 2013	Number 15 VOL. 15 (2), 2012
Number 15 VOL. 15, 2012 Supplement	Number 15 Vol. 15 (1), 2012
Number 14 14 - Vol. 14 (2), 2011	Number 14 The 9th Balkan Congress of Medical Genetics
Number 14 14 - Vol. 14 (1), 2011	Number 13 Vol. 13 (2), 2010
Number 13 Vol.13 (1), 2010	Number 12 Vol.12 (2), 2009
Number 12 Vol.12 (1), 2009	Number 11 Vol.11 (2),2008
Number 11 Vol.11 (1),2008	Number 10 Vol.10 (2), 2007
Number 10 10 (1),2007	Number 9 1&2, 2006
Number 9 3&4, 2006	Number 8 1&2, 2005
Number 8 3&4, 2004	Number 7 1&2, 2004
Number 6 3&4, 2003	Number 6 1&2, 2003
Number 5 3&4, 2002	Number 5 1&2, 2002
Number 4 Vol.3 (4), 2000	Number 4 Vol.2 (4), 1999
Number 4 Vol.1 (4), 1998	Number 4 3&4, 2001
Number 4 1&2, 2001	Number 3 Vol.3 (3), 2000
Number 3 Vol.2 (3), 1999	Number 3 Vol.1 (3), 1998
Number 2 Vol.3(2), 2000	Number 2 Vol.1 (2), 1998
Number 2 Vol.2 (2), 1999	Number 1 Vol.3 (1), 2000
Number 1 Vol.2 (1), 1999	Number 1 Vol.1 (1), 1998

About the journal ::: Editorial ::: Subscription ::: Information for authors ::: Contact