Table 2.
The differentiations between the characteristics of embryonic stem cells and those of adult stem cells.
| Cell type | Human adult stem cella | Human embryonic stem cellsa |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of isolation | Difficult | Easy, however, blastocyst may be destroyed |
| Potency | Multipotent (lose pluripotent ability) | Pluripotent (infinite life span theoretically) |
| Telomerase level | Low | High |
| Chromosomes | Tend to be shortened with aging | Maintain through serial passages |
| Apoptosis | Early | Late |
| Teratoma risk | No | Yes |
| Possibility of immune rejection | No | Yes |
| Ethical issues | No | Yes |
a
Reference 30.