Understanding Differentiation
One of the keys to employing embryonic stem cells in biotech research or regenerative therapies lies in understanding and controlling the way in which these cells differentiate to form different tissue types. Work is proceeding: "When we talked to our colleagues, it was clear that, whether it's cells in the liver, brain, or heart, there had been no practical way for researchers to find the optimal extracellular matrix needed to turn embryonic stem cells into cells with therapeutic potential. We think we've developed an enabling technology for stem cell research and other areas of cell biology in the sense that all of a sudden scientists can use inexpensive and widely available reagents and machinery to optimize the conditions needed to optimize embryonic stem cell differentiation."
Link: http://www.jacobsschool.ucsd.edu/news_events/release.sfe?id=333