Copies of author's previously published articles inserted. / Bibliography: leaves 117-130. / v, 130, [51] leaves, [33] leaves of plates : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The general aim of this thesis is to develop methods for the identification of markers for pluripotent cell subpopulations in the developing mouse embryo. A screen for mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell markers is carried out, to identify transcripts that are differentially expressed between ES cells and X cells, and to investigate pluripotent cell heterogeneity during early development. The study demonstrates the potential to identify and characterise molecular heterogeneity within the developing pluripotent cell pool in vivo, via the controlled progression and analysis of pluripotent cells in vitro. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Biochemistry, 1997