Teratocarcinomas. Teratomas (benign) and teratocarcinomas (malignant) are tumours that are most commonly found in the gonads , but also occasionally in extragonadal sites. Their name ...

The origins of EC cells are primarily testicular in humans and mice. Leroy Stevens discovered that the teratocarcinomas in 129 strains of inbred mice arose from germ cells, those of the sperm and egg.

In other words, the stem cells of mouse teratocarcinomas are pluripotent. Like the cells of the early embryo, they can differentiate to form derivatives of all 3 primary layers.

Andrews PW (2002) From teratocarcinomas to embryonic stem cells.. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 357(1420), 405-417. Andrews PW, Moore H & Smith A (2002) Human embryonic stem cells: prospects for ...