Gene Targeting and Embryonic Stem Cells is a practical guide designed for the rapidly growing number of researchers who are moving into this field. Provides details on how to culture, transfect and differentiate established cell lines, and how to isolate new cell lines. Gene targeting experiments are described for a number of cell types, including ungulate fetal fibroblasts, murine ES cells, human embryonal carinoma cells and human ES cells, and include protocols for gene-targeting vectors, DNA transfection and RNA interference. The recent isolation of human embryonic stem cells and the potential of these cells for therapeutic applications has generated an entirely new methodology. Similarly, gene targeting methodology has recently been extended to nuclear donor cells in ungulate species. This volume will be invaluable for both new and established researchers in the field of human embryonic stem cells, and to biotech companies engaged in the production of transgenic proteins in livestock, xenotransplantation and the development of animal models.