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Significant advances in stem cell research have garnered attention from the scientific community and society at large. Previously, the study of most stem cells, aside from those regenerating the hematopoietic system, was limited to a small group of researchers. The real momentum began in 1998 when James Thomson and colleagues successfully derived pluripotent human embryonic stem (ES) cells, marking a breakthrough that shifted scientific focus. This development led to the generation of specialized human cells in vitro, transforming stem cell research from a niche interest into a promising avenue for treating serious conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. The emergence of regenerative medicine has its roots in this once-esoteric field. Since 1998, extensive research has explored both embryonic and adult stem cells. Early findings suggested that adult stem cells might possess greater plasticity than previously thought, potentially rivaling embryonic stem cells. However, subsequent observations regarding the transdifferentiation capacity and plasticity of adult stem cells have not been consistently replicated. These findings have fueled ongoing debates about the relative capacities of adult versus embryonic stem cells and their potential roles in regenerative medicine.

Pluripotent mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells have been widely used to create mutant mice that pass genetic modifications to their offspring through germ-line transmission. ES cells also have the capacity to differentiate in vitro into cells of endo- dermal, ectodermal and mesodermal lineages. This special issue of Cells Tissues Organs contains articles covering the properties and potential of pluripotent ES cells in culture. Molecular mecha- nisms regulating self-renewal and differentiation of ES cells and the expression pattern of Oct-4, a key regulator of totipotency during the mammali- an life cycle, are described. Several articles review the present knowledge of ES cell-derived neuro- genic, adipogenic, myogenic, cardiovascular and hematopoietic differentiation. The developmental capacity of ES cells as the basis for an in vitro embryotoxicity screening system is presented, and one chapter describes attempts to establish pluri- potent cell lines from other species, including the most recent strategies to introduce genetic modifi- cations into livestock animals by nuclear transfer. A promising area of research has been the isolation of pluripotent stem cells of human origin and their prospective use in tissue transplantations - a topic addressed in the final chapter.