Chronology of Stem Cells

1992

Neural stem cells are cultured in vitro as neurospheres

It has since been shown that new neurons are generated in adult mice, songbirds and primates, including humans. Normally adult neurogenesis is restricted to the subvetricular zone, which lines the lateral ventricles of the brain, and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation.

Neural stem cells are commonly cultured in vitro as so called neurospheres - floating
heterogeneous aggregates of cells, containing a large proportion of stem cells.
They can be propagated for extended periods of time and differentiated into both
neuronal cells, and therefore behave as stem cells.

1981

Mouse embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, which is an early stage embryo - approximately 4 to 5 days old in humans - consisting of 50-150 cells.

Embryonic stem cells were first derived from mouse embryos in 1981 by two independent research groups (Evans & Kaufman and Martin).

1978

Haematopoietic stem cells are discovered in human cord blood

Multipotent hemopoietic stem cells (MHSC) are stem cells found in the bone marrow. MHSC are the precursor cells which give rise to all the blood cell types of both the myeloid lymphoid lineages. This includes monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, T-cells, B-cells, NK-cells, microglia, erythrocytes (red blood cells), megakaryocytes (e.g. platelets), and dendritic cells. As stem cells, they are defined by their ability to form multiple cells types and their ability to self-renew.

1968

The First Bone marrow transplant between two siblings successfully treats SCID (Severe combined immunodeficiency).