摘 要：摘 要：胚胎干细胞具有自我复制并分化为人体各种功能细胞的潜能。胚胎干细胞具有的独特生物学特性使其被广泛应用于生物学研究的各个领域，特别是发育学。同时，它潜在的医学应用也成为世界范围内的研究热点。但是，由于人胚胎干细胞的来源为植入前的早期胚胎，人胚胎干细胞自诞生之日起便倍受争议。本文将从胚胎干细胞的来源、特性、鉴定标准、增殖机理、应用前景以及研究本身涉及的伦理学争论给予概述。
关键词：胚胎干细胞；自我更新；分化；鉴定；胚胎生殖细胞；应用
Abstract:
Abstract: Embryonic stem (ES) cells are able to self-renew and differentiate into all kinds of human cells. Due to their unique properties, ES cells are used in diverse fields of biological research，particular in developmental biology. Meanwhile, their potential medical application become a research hot-spot worldwidly. Since pre-implantation eggs are sources to generate ES cells, the use of embryonic stem cells is therefore controversial. This review will outline characterization of ES cells, regulation of self-renewal, and the applications of the cell in treating diseases, as well as ethical issues related to human ES cells research.
Key words: embryonic stem cells; self-renewal; differentiation; characterization; embryonic germ cells; apllication
