Does obtaining embryonic GERM CELLS kill a fetus?

Question

Does obtaining embryonic GERM CELLS kill a fetus.

Please explain the diffrence between embryonic stem cells and embryonic germ cells. I know that one come early and one comes later. I just dont understand how they differ. Please give as much info as possible. Thank you

Answer 1

http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/hu...

Germ cells are DIPLOID.

Answer 2

stem cells are cells that are capable of creating different types of cells. While normal cells have the ability to reproduce themselves, they cannot differentiate into any tissue form. For example, skin cells can create new skin cells, however, they cannot create liver cells because they are already determined. Embryonic stem cells however are not specified and can create ANY tissue in the body, which is why they are of a high research interest.

Now germ cells don't relate directly to stem cells. Usually cells are grouped into two forms, somatic and germ cells. Somatic cells are just the cells in our body. Germ cells are the haploid cells that we use for procreation. (sperm and egg). Sperm and eggs are the only germ cells, and somatic cells are defined as everything besides those.

stem cells eventually become determined to be germ cells through embryonic development. You can theoretically obtain germ cells from a fetus without killing it as you just remove sperm or eggs from the fetus, however if you remove these tissues hormone therapies would have to be done, and it would be completely against human rights. So removing these cells from human embryos is not done on babies that are living.

Answer 3

Stem cells are cells which are capable of differentiating into other cell types. Embryonic stem cells are stem cells isolated from an early stage of development, and which have undergone little or no differentiation themselves, and so are capable of differentiating into ANY cell type in the adult body.

Adult stem cells are those which are found in the adult body: they have already progressed a way down a specific lineage, and so can only become SEVERAL different cell types - not ALL. For example, a haematopoetic stem cell, found in adult bone marrow, can become any blood cell type (erythrocyte, lymphocyte, platelet, macrophage, neutrophil, etc.)

Obviously, one of the tissues/cell types present in the adult body is the genitals and the gametes (eggs and sperm) contained within them - these are the GERM cells. They retain the ability to become any cell type in the body (when correctly combined with the other type of germ cell during sexual reproduction), but they are produced by a mature, differentiated tissue.

At the stage Embryonic stem cells are isolated (the blastocyst stage), there are NO mature, differentiated tissues - so there are no germ cells. When the embryo is much more developed, their genitals will have formed, and germ cells can (theoretically) be isolated from them. This would not destroy the embryo.