1
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the
potential to develop into any tissue type
Naive ESCs
Naive
ESCs
Trophectoderm
Primitive
endoderm
Extra-
embryonic
mesoderm
(ExEM)
Co-aggregation
2
Naive ESCs are combined with three groups of
ESCs that have been induced to become cells
important for the formation of the yolk sac,
placenta and other supportive tissues
3
Ex-utero
device
The aggregated ESCs are placed in a device that
mimics in-utero embryo growth conditions. They
form embryo-like structures. Over the course of
several days they reach critical growth milestones
of the normal embryo entering the developmental
stage called gastrulation
4
The embryo
model
Epiblast
Hypoblast
ExEM
Trophoblast
The model takes about 6-8 days of incubation to
create a structure resembling a normal human
embryo at around 12-14 days post-fertilisation
1
2
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs)
have the potential to develop
into any tissue type
Naive ESCs are combined with three groups of ESCs that have
been induced to become cells important for the formation of
the yolk sac, placenta and other supportive tissues
Naive ESCs
Co-aggregation
Naive ESCs
Trophectoderm
Primitive endoderm
Extra-embryonic
mesoderm (ExEM)
3
4
The embryo model
The aggregated ESCs are placed in a device that
mimics in-utero embryo growth conditions. They
form embryo-like structures. Over the course of
several days they reach critical growth
milestones of the normal embryo entering the
developmental stage called gastrulation
Epiblast
Hypoblast
ExEM
Trophoblast
The model takes about 6-8 days of incubation to
create a structure resembling a normal human
embryo at around 12-14 days post-fertilisation
Ex-utero device