Abstract: This disclosure provides ungulate embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the inner cell mass of pre-implantation blastocysts or pluripotent cells from embryos. From an agricultural and biomedical perspectives, the derivation of stable ESCs from domestic ungulates is important for genomic testing and selection, genetic engineering, and providing an experimental tool for studying human diseases. Cattle are one of the most important domestic ungulates that are commonly used for food and bioreactors.

Abstract: This disclosure provides ungulate embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the inner cell mass of pre-implantation blastocysts or pluripotent cells from embryos. From an agricultural and biomedical perspectives, the derivation of stable ESCs from domestic ungulates is important for genomic testing and selection, genetic engineering, and providing an experimental tool for studying human diseases. Cattle are one of the most important domestic ungulates that are commonly used for food and bioreactors.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of phospholipase C zeta in inducing or promoting the activation of oocytes, preferably human oocytes, nuclear transfer embryos, parthenogenic embryos, cross species embryos and during in vitro fertilization. The invention further relates to methods of detecting levels of expression of phospholipase c zeta in sperm as a means of detecting male infertility. The invention also relates to the use of phospholipase C zeta to treat male infertility. Still further the invention relates to the recombinant cells that are engineered to express phospholipase C zeta, preferably under inducible conditions. Also, the invention relates to antibodies specific to phospholipase C zeta, preferably human phospholipase C zeta.