Interest in the therapeutic value of embryonic, fetal and adult stem cell types is rapidly expanding throughout the scientific community. The first half of this century should see an explosion of therapeutic applications of stem cells which will grow from the cells and techniques described in this book. Stem Cell Culture provides a comprehensive resource for researchers in the fields of embryonic, fetal and adult stem cell biology to find methods for the purification, culture, and differentiation of these cell types, with the main emphasis on the maintenance of the stem cell phenotype in vitro. This volume will be the first to broadly cover multiple types of stem cell culture from different ages, organs and species. Chapters focus on the practical do's and don'ts of isolating and culturing these cell types, and use illustrative data or diagrams that allow the reader to confidently apply techniques and make this a standard reference.
*Compares and contrasts a broad range of species and stem cell types.
*Describes techniques in stem cell research, and goes beyond just protocols by presenting methods within perspective of recent literature reviews.
*Delineates critical steps and potential pitfalls for each method, provided by at-the-bench authors for expert information.
*Covers specific procedures in dealing with Human Embryonic Stem Cells, but also emphasizes other sources of potentially therapeutic stem cells such as amniotic fluid, adult muscle and adipose tissue, and umbilical cord.
