Bill, I believe you are correct on the blastula and I also think "immortal cell lines" are possible- but I am not 100% sure. Regius can I use a lifeline :-) Charlie At 02:12 PM 10/5/00 -0400, you wrote: >Re: "Zygote" > >Camilla, you're really digging up my old embryology class! :-) I think >the zygote is a special entity in that it consists of the merged sperm and >egg before it begins to split into the cells that then form the blastula. I >would think that the zygote could only exist as such until it starts >dividing into the undifferentiated cells that make up the blastula. I guess >I'm going to have to get to a library and find a text on embryology. > >In my days we didn't call it an embryo until the cells had differentiated >and migrated into their relative positions..... i.e. the "tadpole" stage... > > >Whatdya think? > >Bill > >***************************** > >-----Original Message----- >From: Camilla Flintermann [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2000 11:22 AM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Stem Cells = "Blastula" ? > > >Well, my embryology class was a looooong time ago---and you may be right, >but the stage I have seen cited is the zygote, a "cell produced by the >union of egg and spern":(acc. to Tabers' Medical Encyclopedia) which I >think would be even earlier than a blastula? Is this correct? > > > > > >Stem Cells = "Blastula" ? > > > >Is it not true that the best undifferentiated cells are to be found in the > >blastula phase of development? > > > >If I remember my college embryology from 35 years ago, (and if they haven't > >completely changed the field of embryology since then), the egg and sperm > >come together, begin to split and form a hollow sphere made up of cells.... > >a blastula. At this stage the individuals cells can become anything, > >depending on chemical and other conditions and influences ("tropisms") to > >which they may become exposed. > > > >If the blastula is the best source of stem cells, then should the questions > >not be focused on the use of blastulas, not embryos. What say you? > > > >Bill > >PWP, New Jersey > > >Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 82/70/55 >Oxford, Ohio > <[log in to unmask]> > > on PDWebring at >http://members.tripod.lycos.nl/genugten/flinterm.htm > > "Ask me about the CARE list for > Caregivers of Parkinsonians ! " > And visit the CARE webring at >http://www.crosswinds.net/~caregivers/index.html Charles T. Meyer, M.D. Middleton, WI PD DX 12 years (at age 44) Age 56