Human embryonic stem cells: 10 years on.

Substantial advances in the biology of human embryonic stem (ES) cells, and the technology for working with them, have been made over the past 10 years. Regulatory frameworks for their study are well developed, although some countries remain particularly restrictive. Markers and criteria for characterising human ES cells are also generally agreed, and protocols for promoting their differentiation are being established, providing the groundwork for the development of applications over the next 10 years. The recent appearance of technology to convert somatic cells to 'induced Pluripotent Stem Cells' closely resembling ES cells will certainly speed up these developments.