Abstract: The invention is concerned with producing differentiated cells, tissues and organs from pluripotent and mutlipotent cells. The methods of the invention are particularly useful for producing differentiated cells from pluripotent cells wherein communication between the cells of more than one embryonic germ layer or more than one organ system are required for development along a specific cell lineage. The invention methods are effected by in vivo or in vitro culturing of embryonic and developing or developed allogeneic or xenogeneic cells.

Abstract: Methods and cell lines for cloning ungulate embryos and offspring, in particular bovines and porcines, are provided. The resultant fetuses, embryos or offspring are especially useful for the expression of desired heterologous DNAs, and may be used as a source of cells or tissue for transplantation therapy for the treatment of diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides cloned, genetically modified, endothelial cells, and the stem cells from which they are derived, which are produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer. The invention further provide novel therapeutic methods in which such cells are administered to a patient with tumors to inhibit and/or disrupt angiogenesis of the tumors, thereby inhibiting tumor growth and killing tumor cells.

Abstract: Activated human embryos produced by therapeutic cloning can give rise to human totipotent and pluripotent stem cells from which autologous cells for transplantation therapy are derived. The present invention provides methods for producing activated human embryos that can be used to generate totipotent and pluripotent stem cells from which autologous cells and tissues suitable for transplantation can be derived. In one embodiment, the invention provides methods for producing activated human embryos by parthenogenesis; in another embodiment, the invention provides methods for producing activated human embryos by somatic cell nuclear transfer whereby the genetic material of a differentiated human donor cell is reprogrammed to form a diploid human pronudeus capable of directing a cell to generate the stem cells from which autologous, isogenic cells for transplantation therapy are derived.

Abstract: An improved method of nuclear transfer involving the transplantation of differentiated donor cell nuclei into enucleated oocytes of a species different from the donor cell is provided. The resultant nuclear transfer units are useful for the production of isogenic embryonic stem cells, in particular human isogenic embryonic or stem cells. These embryonic or stem-like cells are useful for producing desired differentiated cells and for introduction, removal or modification, of desired genes, e.g., at specific sites of the genome of such cells by homologous recombination. These cells, which may contain a heterologous gene, are especially useful in cell transplantation therapies and for in vitro study of cell differentiation. Also, methods for improving nuclear transfer efficiency by genetically altering donor cells to inhibit apoptosis, select for a specific cell cycle and/or enhance embryonic growth and development are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to assays for screening growth factors, adhesion molecules, immunostimulatory molecules, extracellular matrix components and other materials, alone or in combination, simultaneously or temporally, for the ability to induce directed differentiation of pluripotent and multipotent stem cells.

Abstract: This invention includes methods for producing non-human mammals expressing monoclonal or oligoclonal B or T lymphocytes, as well as embryonic and hematopoietic stem cells that differentiate into monoclonal or oligoclonal B or T cells, using cloning by nuclear transfer with a B or T cell of interest as the nuclear donor cell.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for effecting the de-differentiation of a somatic cell by culturing the cell in the absence of growth factors, cytokines, or other differentiation-inducing agents, and introducing components of cytoplasm of plutipotent cells into the somatic cell and allowing the cell to de-differentiate. The method can be used with somatic cells of any type, from any species of animal. The pluripotent cells may be oocytes, blastomeres, inner cell mass cells, embryonic stem cells, embryonic germ cells, embryos consisting of one or more cells, embryoid body (embryoid) cells, morula-derived cells, teratoma (teratocarcinoma) cells, as well as multipotent partially differentiated embryonic stem cells taken from later in the embryonic development process. After being de-differentiated, the cell can be induced to re-differentiate into a different somatic cell type. A method for de-differentiating a somatic cell and inducing it to re-differentiate into a cell of neural lineage is disclosed.