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Human embryonic stem cells remain embryonic because of epigenetic factors

10-04-2007 · EurekAlert!

A human embryonic stem cell is reined in -- prevented from giving up its unique characteristics of self-renewal and pluripotency -- by the presence of a protein modification that stifles genes that would prematurely instruct the cell to develop into specialized tissue. Thanks to the simultaneous presence of different protein modifications, stem cells are primed and poised, ready to develop into specialized body tissue, Singapore scientists reported.

Keywords: human, embryonic, stem, cells, remain, epigenetic, factors, cell, factor

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