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Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells occurs through symmetric cell division.

Zwaka TP, Thomson JA

University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School, The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, and The Genome Center of Wisconsin, The Genetics and Biotechnology Building, 452 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

Embryonic (ES) stem cells can be expanded indefinitely, yet retain the ability to form all cell types of the body. Here we report that human ES cells differentiate exclusively by symmetric cell division in each of four distinct differentiation conditions examined. This suggests that, in some respects, ES cells more closely resemble precursor or transit amplifying cells rather than adult stem cells.

Published 26 January 2005 in Stem Cells, 23(2): 146-9.
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