What is the Difference Between IPS Cells and Embryonic Stem Cells?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are both pluripotent stem cells, meaning they can differentiate into cells from all three primary germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm). However, there are some differences between the two:
- Origin: ES cells are derived from the inner cell mass of preimplantation embryos, while iPS cells are generated by somatic cell reprogramming following the exogenous expression of specific transcription factors.
- Epigenetic Status: ES cells have a unique epigenetic landscape that is important for pluripotency, while iPS cells are generated by resetting the epigenetic state of somatic cells to that of ES cells.
- Morphology: ES cells and iPS cells are indistinguishable from a morphological point of view.
- Function: Both ES and iPS cells can differentiate into cells of any of the three germ layers.
- Applications: ES cells have been used for disease modeling, cell transplantation therapy, regenerative medicine, drug testing, and more. iPS cells, on the other hand, offer patient-specific stem cells for research and clinical studies, overcoming ethical and immunological issues associated with ES cells.
Despite their similarities, ES and iPS cells have some differences in gene expression and epigenetic status. Researchers are working to better understand these differences and how they may impact the function and application of these cells in various biomedical fields.
Comparative Table: IPS Cells vs Embryonic Stem Cells
Differences between induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can be summarized in the following table:
Feature | iPSCs | ESCs |
---|---|---|
Derivation | Derived from a variety of somatic cell types | Derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the blastocyst |
Genetic Background | Patient-specific, can be generated from adult cells | Generated from an embryo, genetically distinct from the individual they are derived from |
Morphology | Indistinguishable from ESCs | Indistinguishable from iPSCs |
Function | Can differentiate into cells of any of the three germ layers | Can differentiate into cells of any of the three germ layers |
Epigenetic Background | Different epigenetic backgrounds compared to ESCs, potentially affecting transcriptional activity | Transcriptionally hyperactive, undergoing major silencing during differentiation |
Despite the differences, both iPSCs and ESCs are considered pluripotent stem cells, meaning they can differentiate into cells of all three germ layers and have the potential for use in various biomedical applications, such as cell transplantation therapy, regenerative medicine, drug testing, and disease modeling.
- Stem Cells vs Embryonic Stem Cells
- Fetal vs Embryonic Stem Cells
- Embryonic vs Somatic Stem Cells
- Adult vs Embryonic Stem Cells
- Umbilical Cord Stem Cells vs Embryonic Stem Cells
- Stem Cells vs Differentiated Cells
- Pluripotent vs Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
- Stem Cells vs Normal Cells
- Progenitor Cells vs Stem Cells
- Mesenchymal vs Hematopoietic Stem Cells
- Specialized Cells vs Stem Cells
- Epithelial vs Mesenchymal Cells
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells vs Progenitor Cells
- Neural Stem Cells vs Neural Progenitor Cells
- Pluripotent vs Multipotent Stem Cells
- Cord Blood vs Bone Marrow Stem Cells
- Stem Cell Differentiation vs Self Renewal
- Blastocyst vs Embryo
- Embryo vs Zygote