Part I - The Basics

Chapter 1 - The Nature of Stem Cells

Overview

Adult Stem Cells

Fetal Tissue Stem Cells

Sidebar: Bone Marrow Transplantation: E. Donnell Thomas

Embryonic Stem Cells

Nuclear Transfer Stem Cells

Human Cloning

Chapter 2 The Dividing Cell

Overview

The Cell Cycle

Stimulating Cell Division

Molecular Biology of the Cell Cycle

Sidebar: Cell Cycle Regulators: Lee Hartwell, Paul Nurse, and Tim Hunt

Part II - Egg Specific Functions

Chapter 3 - The Egg

Overview

Egg Growth

Oocyte Meiosis

Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Molecular Biology of Oocyte Meiosis

Sidebar: cMos Activiity: Metaphase II Arrest

Chapter 4 - The Activated Egg

Overview

Spontaneous Egg Activation

Artificial Egg Activation

Egg Activation by Sperm

Sidebar: Activation of Human Eggs: In Vitro Fertilization and

Cleavage of Human Ovarian Eggs

Egg Activation Following Nuclear Transplantation

Molecular Biology of Egg Activation

Chapter 5 - The Zygote

Overview

The Pronuclear Stage Egg

Manipulation of the Zygote

Parthenotes

Haploid Parthenotes

Sidebar: Transgenic Mice: Introduction of Foreign

Genes in Zygotes

Diploid Parthenotes

Molecular Biology of Zygotes

Chapter 6 - Blastomere Cleavage

Overview

The First Cleavage

The Second Cleavage

Fragmented Cleavages

The Third, Fourth, and Fifth Cleavages

Embryo Development in Laboratory Conditions

Sidebar: Development of Tissue Culture Media

Molecular Biology of Blastomere Cleavage

Chapter 7 - Basic Nuclear Transfer Technology

Overview

Transfer of Nuclei into Frog Eggs

Sidebar: Development Potential of Transplanted Nuclei

Gene Expression: Transcription and Translation

Transcription and Translation in Frog Eggs

Reprogramming a Nucleus

Part III - Embryonic Stem Cells

Chapter 8 - The Blastocyst and Inner Cell Mass Cells

Overview

Equivalence Groups

The Blastocyst

Primitive Endoderm

Implantation

Blastocyst Development In Vitro

Embryonic Stem Cells

Chimeras

Sidebar: Knockout Mice

Chapter 9 - Organogenesis

Overview

The Second Week

The Third Week

The Fourth Week

Fifth and Sixth Weeks

Primordial Germ Cell Migration

Fetal Tissue Stem Cells

Sidebar: Primordial Germ Cells and Embryonal

Carcinoma Cells

Chapter 10 - Mammalian Nuclear Transfer Technologies

Overview

Transplantation of Embryonic Nuclei into Fertilized Eggs

Nuclear Transplantation and the Cell Cycle of Fertilized Eggs

Transplantation of Embryonic Nuclei into Unfertilized Eggs

Transplantation of Somatic Cell Nuclei into Unfertilized Eggs

Animal Cloning

Challenges in Human Therapeutic Cloning

Sidebar: Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer in Humans: Pronuclear

Early Embryonic Development

Chapter 11 - Stem Cell Differentiation

Overview

Adult Stem Cells

Fetal Stem Cells

Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Human Parthenote Stem Cells

Part IV - Stem Cell Therapies

Chapter 12  - Neurogenerative Diseases

Overview

Parkinson's Disease

Alzheimers

Other Brain Syndromes

Spinal Cord Injury

Chapter 13 - Tissue Systems Failures

Overview

Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

Cardiomyopathy

Kidney Failure

Liver Failure

Cancer

Hemophilia

Part V - Human Embryonic Stem Cells and Society

Chapter 14 - The Religious, Legal, Ethical, and Scientific Debate

Overview

The Religious Debate

The Legal Debate

The Ethical Debate

The Scientific Debate

The Future of the Debate

Glossary

Index