THE SCIENCE OF STEM CELLS

1 What is a Stem Cell? 1
2 Characterizing Cells 13
3 Genetic Modification and Labeling of Cell Lineages 31
4 Tissue Culture, Tissue Engineering and Grafting 49
5 Early Mouse and Human Development 69
6 Pluripotent Stem Cells 93
7 Body Plan Formation 107
8 Organogenesis 125
9 Cell Differentiation and Growth 155
10 Stem Cells in the Body 189
11 Regeneration, Wound Healing and Cancer 217

Introduces all of the essential cell biology and developmental biology background for the study of stem cells
This book gives you all the important information you need to become a stem cell scientist. It covers the characterization of cells, genetic techniques for modifying cells and organisms, tissue culture technology, transplantation immunology, properties of pluripotent and tissue specific stem cells and, in particular, the relevant aspects of mammalian developmental biology. It dispels many misconceptions about stem cells—especially that they can be miracle cells that can cure all ills. The book puts emphasis on stem cell behavior in its biological context and on how to study it. Throughout, the approach is simple, direct, and logical, and evidence is given to support conclusions.
Stem cell biology has huge potential for advancing therapies for many distressing and recalcitrant diseases, and its potential will be realized most quickly when as many people as possible have a good grounding in the science of stem cells.

• Content focused on the basic science underpinning stem cell biology
• Covers techniques of studying cell properties and cell lineage in vivo and in vitro
• Explains the basics of embryonic development and cell differentiation, as well as the essential cell biology processes of signaling, gene expression, and cell division
• Includes instructor resources such as further reading and figures for downloading
• Offers an online supplement summarizing current clinical applications of stem cells

Written by a prominent leader in the field, The Science of Stem Cells is an ideal course book for advanced undergraduates or graduate students studying stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and other topics of science and biology.

Author
JONATHAN M. W. SLACK is a developmental biologist and author of five books and over 200 scientific papers. He is an emeritus professor at the University of Bath, UK, as well as the University of Minnesota, USA, where he was Director of the Stem Cell Institute from 2007–2013.