This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

Blastomeres,

I posted this in the Biology uni forum but i don't know how to delete it?
This isn't on the AS Level syllabus and i thought that medical students might learn about this?

Anyways, what are blastomeres?

I'm confused by the conflicting information on the internet. Are blastomeres embryonic stem cells, or do they become embryonic stem cells, can they even become embryonic stem cells or am i just wrong in linking them?

I know they contain all of the zygote's genetic material and can be screened using PGD for chromosomal or genetic abnormalities, but i am not sure as to what they are?

Also, i was thinking that they have to be stem cells as they will eventually specialise into a certain cell. ?

Reply 1

Wangers

16

Simple answer yes, they are totipotent. Long answer - you really don't want to know. (unless you want to sacrifice hours of your life).

Reply 2

Hygeia

14

I've moved this to Biology study help forum as the medicine forum isn't really the place for these sort of questions

Reply 3

loveisjustasong

OP

14

Wangers

Simple answer yes, they are totipotent. Long answer - you really don't want to know. (unless you want to sacrifice hours of your life).

i actually do want to know the long story lol :p:

do you have a good link or something?

Reply 4

Wangers

16

On reflection - I have a feeling I'm wrong - they're not totipotent, but they are partially stem cells. And no, im not going to tell you the long story - because I havent learnt it properly myself yet.

Reply 5

Lu-x

16

An oocyte is fertilised and is called a zygote. Then cleavage occurs, resulting in two blastomeres of equal size. Further division results in a morula (group of cells). At this stage cells are totipotent. In in vitro fertilisation, the morula is genetically tested - pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). A cell can be safely removed from the morula and tested for serious heritable conditions prior to transfer of the embryo into the mother.

Reply 6

loveisjustasong

OP

14

Lu-x

An oocyte is fertilised and is called a zygote. Then cleavage occurs, resulting in two blastomeres of equal size. Further division results in a morula (group of cells). At this stage cells are totipotent. In in vitro fertilisation, the morula is genetically tested - pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). A cell can be safely removed from the morula and tested for serious heritable conditions prior to transfer of the embryo into the mother.

ah, thank you.

i swear its so complicated on the internet?! :s-smilie:

Reply 7

Lu-x

16

Get Cape.Wear Cape.Fly.

ah, thank you.

i swear its so complicated on the internet?! :s-smilie:

Yeah it prolly is. Often textbooks on the subject are too detailed for what you need too. This info comes from a lecture I had at uni on embryology :smile:

Blastomeres,

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you