Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage pre-implantation embryo. STEM Cell Information |url=https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/stc-basics/#stc-I |website=stemcells.nih.gov |access-date=5 June 2022 |archive-date=9 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609014145/https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/stc-basics/#stc-I |url-status=live }} Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50–150 cells. Isolating the inner cell mass (embryoblast) using immunosurgery results in destruction of the blastocyst, a process which raises ethical issues, including whether or not embryos at... meer