Human embryonic stem cells are obtained by a process called culturing where the cells are grown in a laboratory. [2]

First, a sperm and an egg cell are combined using the process of in vitro (from Latin: "within the glass") fertilization. In this process, the cells are combined in a Petri dish or other piece of glass laboratory equipment. [2] [6]

When the child is approximately 5 days old, the cells have formed a blastocyst. The inner mass cells (IMC)s are extracted from the blastocyst and transferred to a Petri dish that has been coated with a nutrient "goo" that encourage the stem cells to reproduce. When the cells have completely filled the Petri dish, some of them are transferred to other dishes and the process continues. [2]

Once enough cells are grouped together, scientists can inject a different "goo" into the Petri dish to force the stem cells to differentiate into body cells, such as blood cells, neurons, and pancreatic cells. [2]

More information about the differentiated cells and their uses can be found in the other pages of this site.