Full of potential: Pluripotent stem cells for the systems biology of embryonic patterning

Abstract

Recently, it has become possible to recapitulate embryonic patterning in vitro using embryonic stem cells. The technical advantages and reduced complexity of these embryoids make them ideally suited to rigorously test long standing paradigms for pattern formation in the mammalian embryo. Here, we discuss insights into the underlying mechanisms that have been gained from stem cell models to date, focusing on models for gastrulation.