A method for inducing immature oocytes includes introducing four genes consisting of FIGLA, NOBOX, LHX8 and TBPL2, or transcripts or expressed proteins thereof, into at least one type of cell selected from the group consisting of pluripotent stem cells, epiblast-like cells and primordial germ cells. A method for producing mature oocytes includes introducing four genes consisting of FIGLA, NOBOX, LHX8 and TBPL2, or transcripts or expressed proteins thereof, into at least one type of cell selected from the group consisting of pluripotent stem cells, epiblast-like cells and primordial germ cells, and co-culturing the cell obtained after the introduction and ovarian somatic cells.

Methods of preparing ovarian tissue for primordial follicle growth are presented comprising the steps: providing an ovarian tissue sample comprising cortical tissue and stromal tissue; removing damaged tissue from the ovarian tissue sample where present; removing excess stromal tissue from the ovarian tissue sample where present; and then mechanically stretching the ovarian tissue sample along at least one dimension of the ovarian tissue sample, such that the size of the ovarian tissue sample along the at least one dimension is increased by at least 10%. Methods of growing viable oocyte in vitro, and methods of preparing individual ovarian follicles for growth are also presented.

The present invention relates to a composition for preserving cells and a method for preserving cells and, more specifically, to: a composition for preserving cells, containing, as active ingredients, plant-derived recombinant human serum albumin and plant peptides, wherein the composition maintains a high cellular survival rate while maintaining animal-free and xeno-free properties and is stable without changes in cellular morphology or surface expression factors in the short-term preservation of cells such as stem cells or primary cultured cells; and a method for preserving cells by using the same.

Maintenance of adult tissues depends on stem cell self-renewal in local niches. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) are germline adult stem cells necessary for spermatogenesis and fertility. The present invention relates utilization of testicular endothelial cells (TECs) in the SSC niche producing glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and other factors to support human and mammal SSCs in long-term culture. The present invention also relates to utilization of five factors sufficient for long-term maintenance of human and mammal SSC colonies in feeder-free cultures. Male cancer survivors after chemotherapy are often infertile since SSCs are highly susceptible to cytotoxic injury. Transplantation of TECs alone is used to restore spermatogenesis in mice after chemotherapy-induced depletion of SSCs.

The disclosure relates to Bovine germplasm of Bos taurus HO840003210132823. Included in the present disclosure are cells comprising the genome of Bovine HO840003210132823 characterized by the presence of homozygous loci and spermatozoa obtained from said cells. Also provided by the present disclosure are tissue cultures of cells, animals obtained from said cells, and parts thereof, including F1 spermatozoa. The disclosure further provides for methods of breeding, selecting, and using the germplasm to improve existing commercial cattle herds generated from in vitro fertilization methods and progeny cattle obtained from in vitro fertilization and implantation and artificial insemination methods.

The present invention relates to a composition for preserving cells and a method for preserving cells and, more specifically, to: a composition for preserving cells, containing, as active ingredients, plant-derived recombinant human serum albumin and plant peptides, wherein the composition maintains a high cellular survival rate while maintaining animal-free and xeno-free properties and is stable without changes in cellular morphology or surface expression factors in the short-term preservation of cells such as stem cells or primary cultured cells; and a method for preserving cells by using the same.

The present disclosure provides exogenous polynucleotide cassettes for generating chimeric bird cells and chimeric birds. The polynucleotide cassettes can be used to produce conditionally-lethal phenotype in male bird embryos. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides methods for destroying male chick embryos in-ovo.

Provided herein are, inter alia, compositions and methods for generating a population of PGCs with improved efficiencies and line-to-line consistency. Inductive signals are temporally dynamic: WNT activation for 12 hours incipiently differentiates primed hPSCs into posterior epiblast, while subsequently, sharp WNT inhibition together with BMP activation specifies PGCs. hPSC-derived PGCs can be easily purified by virtue of their CXCR4.sup.+PDGFRα.sup.-GARP-surface-marker profile.

A pluripotent stem cell, a method for producing the pluripotent stem cell, and the use of the pluripotent stem cell for stem cell differentiation, cell transplantation, tissue repair, and/or tissue regeneration.

A problem of this invention it to provide a method for differentiate a primordial germ cell into a functional GV stage oocyte by in vitro culture. This invention relates to a method for differentiating a primordial germ cell into a functional GV stage oocyte by in vitro culture, comprising: (a) a step of producing a secondary follicle by culturing the primordial germ cell and supporting cells adjacent to the primordial germ cells under conditions that eliminate the effects of estrogen or a factor having a similar function to estrogen; (b) a step of partially dissociating cells between a granulosa cell layer and a thecal cell layer, wherein an oocyte, the granulosa cell layer, and the thecal cell layer constitute the produced secondary follicle; and (c) a step of differentiating the oocyte into a functional GV stage oocyte by culturing the oocyte, the granulosa cell layer, and the thecal cell layer that constitute the secondary follicle in a medium containing a high-molecular-weight compound.