Understanding human embryogenesis by building programmable stem cell-based models

Abstract

Stem cell-based embryo models provide an alternative system to study an elusive period of development. Programmed mouse embryo models have recently been generated by activating two endogenous regulatory elements via epigenome editing. In this forum article, we discuss this achievement along with the potential of translating it to engineering models of human embryogenesis.

Keywords: CRISPR activation; embryo models; epigenome editing; stem cells.