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Amniotic fluid stem (AFS) cells are a promising new field in stem cell research. They are easy to isolate and culture which makes them very well suited for stem cell based approaches. AFS cells are broadly multipotent and have been shown to differentiate into a diverse range of cell types. This work focuses on the differentiation of AFS cells into one specific cell type, the myelin-producing glia cells of the peripheral nervous system: the Schwann cells.

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Dr. med. univ. David Schörghofer, born on 23.05.1990, studied medicine at the Medical University of Vienna from October 2009 to July 2015. While studying, he developed an interest in medical science, especially in stem cell based research. Therefore, he devoted this topic to his diploma work which will be presented within this book.

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