Bovine pluripotent stem cells

The isolation of pluripotent stem cells domestic animals will have a big influence on genetic modification of livestock. Pluripotent stem cell lines have been established for several domestic species. The in vivo pluripotency properties of stem cell lines has been demonstrated for bovine, sheep, and pig stem cell lines. Bovine pluripotent stem cell lines derived from embryos or primordial germ cells are an unlimited source of pluripotent cells. Nuclear transfer of bovine pluripotent stem cells could play an important role in the production of offspring of domestic animals. However, placental development of fetuses derived from nuclear transfer of stem cells is incomplete, several approaches to overcome this problem described. Pluripotent stem cells will become valuable after demonstration of germ line transmission resulting in a full term live calf.