Question: How are you planning to make embryonic stem cells?

Sharon Sneddon answered on 13 Mar 2011:

Hi harrydacob,

There are a few ways to make embryonic stem cells, most of them start with embryos that are a few days old. However, these are quite difficult to get hold off and I’ve been trying to make them using eggs (oocytes) instead of embryos. This method is much more difficult.

The eggs come from people who are having IVF treatment to help them have a baby. when they have this treatment, sometimes there are a few eggs that cant be used for their treatment so we ask if we can use them.

The eggs get put in the incubator with 3 chemicals that makes them divide into a ball of cells and from these, we can cut out the embryonic stem cells which appear 5 or 6 days later. The cells are then left in the incubator in a fluid made of salts sugars and other goodies to help them divide and grow. If they are still growing after a few months we can then look at them under the microscope and check they have the right genes “switched on” and we can then say they are an embryonic stem cell line.
I hope that makes sense, if not then ask me more questions and I’ll try and explain it better!!