Human embryonic pluripotent germ cells
AssigneeJohns Hopkins School of Medicine
InventorsJohn D. Gearhart, Michael Joseph Shamblott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Primordial germ cells extracted from post blastocyst human embryos, such as from the gonadal ridges of a 8-11 week LMP human embryo, are disclosed. The primordial germ cells are cultured in long term culture (more than 30 days) resulting in cells that resemble embryonic stem cells in morphology and pluripotency. The cells are maintained several months in culture and can be genetically manipulated using transgenic technology to insert heterologous genetic material.
Claims15
Human pluripotential embryonic germ cells, wherein the cells exhibit the following culture characteristics during maintenance:
- (a) dependence on a ligand which binds to a receptor which can heterodimerize with glycoprotein 130 (gp 130);
- and
- (b) dependence on a growth factor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.