Chapter 12

Micro-RNAs, Pluripotent Stem Cells and Germ Cells: Basic Science to Clinical Applications

Jinlian Hua, Shun Zhang, L. Wang, H. Cao, H. Zhu, J. Sun and Kuldip S.Sidhu

Abstract

Micro RNAs (miRNAs), recently discovered specific small molecules, have emerged as crucial regulators of diverse developmental processes, such as cell maintenance, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, organ formation, tumor formation and so on. They exert widespread functions as regulatory molecules mainly in post-transcriptional levels (also in translation levels). Germ cells, as a kind of unique cells, carry the responsibility for passing genetic information to the next generation. miRNAs play a crucial role in germline development including the formation of primordial germ cells (PGCs), germline stem cells (GSCs) and gametes. We have reviewed here mainly the effects of miRNAs on germ cell development and its related progress.

Total Pages: 180-190 (11)

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