"Stem cells are undifferentiated or partially differentiated cells that can differentiate into various types of cells and proliferate indefinitely to produce more of the same stem cell."
Study of the properties and behavior of stem cells, which have the ability to differentiate into various types of cells and tissues.
Embryonic development: The process by which an embryo grows and develops into a fetus, including the formation of germ layers, organogenesis, and morphogenesis.
Stem cell types: Different types of stem cells, including embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, adult stem cells, and cord blood stem cells.
Pluripotency: The ability of stem cells to differentiate into any cell type in the body.
Differentiation: The process by which stem cells become specialized into specific cell types.
Lineage specification: The decision-making process by which a stem cell chooses to become a certain cell type.
Stem cell niches: The microenvironments in which stem cells reside and receive signals that regulate their behavior.
Epigenetics: The study of modifications to gene activity that do not involve changes to the DNA sequence, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, which can affect stem cell differentiation and pluripotency.
Gene regulation: The process by which genes are turned on or off, which is critical for controlling stem cell behavior.
Signaling pathways: The complex pathways by which cells communicate with each other, including growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix molecules that regulate stem cell behavior.
Tissue engineering: The process of growing tissues or organs in the laboratory for use in transplantation or regenerative medicine, which often involves the use of stem cells.
Ethics and regulation: The ethical and regulatory considerations associated with stem cell-based therapies and research.
Diseases and disorders: The use of stem cells for the treatment of various diseases and disorders, including cancer, neurological disorders, and heart disease, among others.
Autologous vs. allogeneic stem cell transplantation: The differences between these two types of stem cell transplantation, and the factors that determine which approach is appropriate for different patients.
Clinical trials: The design and execution of clinical trials involving stem cell-based therapies, including phase I, II, and III trials, and the importance of patient safety and data integrity.
Future directions: The potential future applications of stem cell biology in the fields of medicine, research, and biotechnology.
Embryonic stem cells: These stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage of embryos. They have the potential to differentiate into any cell type in the body.
Fetal stem cells: These stem cells are derived from fetal tissues and organs during gestation, and they have a slightly more specialized differentiation potential than embryonic stem cells.
Adult stem cells: These stem cells are found in many adult tissues and organs and are involved in tissue repair and regeneration. They have a limited differentiation potential compared to embryonic stem cells.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs): These stem cells are derived from adult somatic cells that have been reprogrammed to behave like embryonic stem cells.
Mesenchymal stem cells: These stem cells are found in many tissues, including bone marrow and adipose tissue, and are involved in tissue repair and regeneration.
Hematopoietic stem cells: These stem cells are found in bone marrow and are involved in the production of all blood cells.
Neural stem cells: These stem cells are found in the brain and can differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.
Epithelial stem cells: These stem cells are found in the skin, intestine, and other epithelial tissues and are involved in tissue repair and regeneration.
Cancer stem cells: These are a small subset of cells within a tumor that have stem cell-like properties and are believed to be responsible for tumor growth, metastasis, and recurrence.
Placental/umbilical cord stem cells: These stem cells are found in the placenta and umbilical cord and have a similar differentiation potential to embryonic stem cells. They can be used in regenerative medicine.
Dental stem cells: These stem cells are found in teeth and have a potential to differentiate into a variety of cell types, including odontoblasts, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. They can be used in various dental therapies.
Fat stem cells: These stem cells are found in adipose tissue and are involved in tissue repair and regeneration. They are also used in cosmetic surgery procedures.
Cardiovascular stem cells: These stem cells are found in the heart and are involved in the regeneration process of injured or diseased heart tissue.
"They are found in both embryonic and adult organisms, but they have slightly different properties in each."
"In mammals, roughly 50-150 cells make up the inner cell mass during the blastocyst stage of embryonic development... These have stem-cell capability."
"This process starts with the differentiation into the three germ layers - the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm - at the gastrulation stage."
"Adult stem cells are found in a few select locations in the body, known as niches, such as those in the bone marrow or gonads."
"They are usually distinguished from progenitor cells, which cannot divide indefinitely..."
"The only established medical therapy using stem cells is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation."
"Research into stem cells grew out of findings by Canadian biologists Ernest McCulloch, James Till and Andrew J. Becker..."
"Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, first performed in 1958 by French oncologist Georges Mathé."
"The process of isolating these cells has been controversial because it typically results in the destruction of the embryo."
"Somatic cell nuclear transfer is a cloning method that can be used to create a cloned embryo for the use of its embryonic stem cells in stem cell therapy."
"Sources for isolating ESCs have been restricted in some European countries and Canada..."
"Others such as the UK and China have promoted the research."
"In 2006, a Japanese team led by Shinya Yamanaka discovered a method to convert mature body cells back into stem cells."
"These were termed induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)."
"...they are multipotent or unipotent, meaning they only differentiate into a few cell types or one type of cell."
"Hematopoietic stem cells... replenish blood and immune cells."
"Basal cells maintain the skin epithelium."
"Mesenchymal stem cells maintain bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat cells."
"...and proliferate indefinitely to produce more of the same stem cell."