Nicole Slawny, Graduate Student, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School
Mouse embryonic stem cells were engineered to over-express a protein called Geminin. This protein has two important functions during embryonic development: to control cell division and to promote differentiation of neural cells. The Geminin-producing cells form many immature neural precursors (purple) and neurons (green). The cell nuclei have been stained blue. Experiments with embryonic stems cells are important not only to produce specific cell types for cell replacement therapies, but also as a model system to understand embryonic development.