Is teratoma formation in stem cell research a characterization tool or a window to developmental biology?

Transplantation of pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESC) into immune-deficient mice results in the formation of complex teratomas consisting of derivatives from all three germ layers. The highly sophisticated tissue organization found therein resembles structures normally found in the embryo and adult. Used as a functional proof of pluripotency of ESC, teratoma characterization has been restricted to identification of derivatives from all three germ layers. This paper aims to provide a thoughtful analysis of teratoma formation from a range of stem cells on the basis of published information, in an attempt to gain insight into tissue development during embryogenesis and provide a useful model for studying human development in normal as well as abnormal situations and toxicity studies. Furthermore, it is believed that studies on teratomas might lead to novel approaches in many research areas, including oncology and bioengineering.