Abstract: Embryonic stem cells（ＥＳＣｓ） ａｒｅ ｐｌｕｒｉｐｏｔｅｎｔ ｓｔｅｍ ｃｅｌｌｓ， ｗｈｉｃｈ ｃａｎ ｂｅ ｉｎｄｕｃｅｄ ｔｏ ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｔｉａｔｅ ｉｎｔｏ ｇｅｒｍ ｃｅｌｌｓ． Ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ ｏｆ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｔｕｍｏｒｉｇｅｎｉｃｉｔｙ ａｎｄ ｅｔｈｉｃａｌ ｉｓｓｕｅｓ， ｔｈｅｉｒ ｃｌｉｎｉｃａｌ ａｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎ ｗｅｒｅ ａｓｔｒｉｃｔｅｄ． Ａｄｕｌｔ ｓｔｅｍ ｃｅｌｌｓ（ＡＳＣｓ） ａｒｅ ｍｕｌｔｉｐｏｔｅｎｔ ｓｔｅｍ ｃｅｌｌｓ， ｔｈｅｙ ｈａｖｅ ｐｏｔｅｎｔｉａｌ ｔｏ ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｔｉａｔｅ ｉｎｔｏ ｇｅｒｍ ｃｅｌｌｓ ｉｎ ｔｈｅｏｒｙ， ｂｕｔ ｔｈｅ ｉｎｄｕｃｉｎｇ ｐｒｏｃｅｓｓ ａｒｅ ｏｆｔｅｎ ｃｏｍｐｌｉｃａｔｅｄ． Ｉｎｄｕｃｅｄ ｐｌｕｒｉｐｏｔｅｎｔ ｓｔｅｍ ｃｅｌｌｓ（ｉＰＳ） ａｒｅ ｔｈｅ pluripotent and reprogrammed somatic cells which can be used to replace ESC in basic and clinical research, to some extent. The morbidity of infertility increased in these years, so it is important to understand the mechanism of germ cell differentiation for potential infertility treatment. Here, we reviewed the recent progress on the derivation of germ cells from stem cells.

Key words: Stem cells, Embryonic stem cells, Adult stem cells, Multipotent stem cells, Germ cells, Differentiation