A METHOD FOR MAINTAINING EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS AND AVIAN FACTOR USEFUL FOR SAME

摘要

The present invention provides a method for maintaining in vitro animal embryonic stem (ES) cells without substantial differentiation, said method comprising culturing said ES cells in the presence of a feeder layer comprising chicken embryonic fibroblasts. The present invention also contemplates an isolated chick-derived ES stem cell factor obtainable from chicken embryonic fibroblasts and chick embryonic extracts.