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The First Derivation Of Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Glossary

allogeneic:
when describing transplantation biology, the donating individual
is of the same species, but not ones self


angina:
a condition with severe and constricting pain, usually referring to
the heart


autologous:

when describing transplantation biology, the donating individual is
ones self


blastocyst:

in mammalian embryology, the preimplantation embryo consisting of a
sphere of cells with an outer cell layer, a fluid-filled cavity, and
a cluster of cells on the interior that is the inner cell mass


cardiomyocytes:

mature, differentiated heart muscle cells


chondrocytes:

mature, differentiated cartilage cells


chromosomes:

composed chiefly of DNA, they are the carrier of genes, the hereditary
information


cloning:

a term that is applied to genes, cells or entire organisms that are
derived from, and are genetically identical to, a single common ancestor
gene, cell, or organism, respectively


differentiate:

to undergo a cellular progression to a more specialized type


embryo:

early stages of development in an organism


embryogenesis:

the process of embryo formation


feeder layers of irradiated mouse fibroblasts:

mouse cells which have been treated to prevent their division, but which
produce important growth factors allowing ES cells to repopulate


fibroblast cells:

cells that give rise to connective tissue


keratinocytes:

cells that synthesize keratin as in the skin, hair, and nails


gene targeting:

the insertion of DNA into specific sites or genes within the genome of
selected cells to alter gene expression for therapeutic applications


genome:

the genetic material (complete set of chromosomes) of an organism


genomic technology:

sequencing genes and their expression products


hematopoietic:

pertaining to the formation of blood cells


hES cells:

human embryonic stem cells, they are immortal (self-renewing), telomerase
positive, and pluripotent


homologous recombination:

a process whereby a specific gene sequence within the genome is replaced
with a related gene sequence using the cellular recombination enzymes


inner cell mass:

the cluster of cells within the blastocyst from which hES cells are derived


implantation:

attachment of a blastocyst to the endometrium


in vitro:

performed in an artificial environment such as a test tube


in vivo:

performed in a living organism


in vitro fertilization (IVF):

an assisted reproduction technique in which fertilization is accomplished
outside of the body


ischemia:

deficiency of oxygen in a tissue due to obstruction of a blood vessel


islet cells:

cells of the pancreas that produce and secrete insulin; degeneration of
islet cells is the cause of Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus


karyotype:

the chromosomal characteristics of a cell


knock-out mice:

mice that have had one or both copies of a specific gene deleted or
inactivated


murine:

of or relating to the rodent family


myocardial infarction:

heart attack


pluripotent:

the ability to develop into multiple cell types including all three
embryonic lineages forming the body organs, nervous system, skin, muscle,
and skeleton


severe combined immunodeficient (scid) mice:

mice with the majority of their immune defenses not functioning


telomerase:

an enzyme composed of a protein and an RNA template which synthesizes
telomeric DNA at the ends of chromosomes and confers replicative
immortality to cells


telomeres:

the ends of chromosomes


teratoma:

a non-malignant tumor consisting of different types of tissue caused by
the growth of embryonic stem cells at an abnormal site in the body


totipotent:

the ability of a cell to give rise to all cells and tissues in the body
including the reproductive organs


undifferentiated:

having no limited or specialized function or structure, as in stem cells


zygote:

cell formed by union of two gametes  male and female germ cells

http://www.eurekalert.org/releases/geron_stem_gloss.html

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