The present invention provides methods and compostions to improve the efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). There is increasing evidence that the epigenetic state of donor nuclei has a significant impact on potential of nuclear transfer embryos to develop into blastocysts, from which pluripotent stem cells are derived. Strategic application of histone agents, capable of altering epigenetic state such as methylation, allows zygotic activation and robust blastocyst generation.

Human pluripotent embryonic stem cells produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer as well as methods of making and using said human pluripotent embryonic stem cells are disclosed.

The present invention provides modified oocytes having a nuclear genome derived from a first oocyte and cytoplasm derived from a second oocyte from a different subject, and methods for making and using such modified oocytes. The methods and compositions of the present invention can be useful in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, in in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.

Use invention provides a method for producing polypeptide protein products and nucleic acid products having reduced levels of antigenicity in an animal being treated with a biologic product. Somatic cells are isolated from an animal, transformed into pluripotent stem cells, transfected with a nucleic and(s) of interest, and re-differentiated towards somatic cells known to be high level producers of the desired nucleic acid product. The invention can be used to derive a general cell line to treat populations, racial specific cell lines to treat ethnic groups, or patient specific cell lines to treat individuals. Additionally, the invention provides a method to allow induced pluripotent stern cells to be re-differentiated towards their somatic cell of origin so that the cells can he used to therapeutically treat an animal without resulting teratoma formation.

Human pluripotent embryonic stem cells produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer as well as methods of making and using said human pluripotent embryonic stem cells are disclosed.

Haploid human embryonic stem cells and cell lines, haploid multipotent human cells, and haploid differentiated human cells are provided. In addition, methods of making and using the haploid human cells are provided.

This disclosure relates to a method of somatic cell nuclear reprogramming to alter the cell type comprising preparing a GV extract, permeabilising somatic cells, incubating the somatic cells with the GV extract to alter the cell type, and rescaling somatic cell membranes, wherein said GV extract does not comprise oocyte cytoplasm. The disclosure also relates to a GV extract comprising reprogramming factors.