Stem Cells Simplified – Part 1.1

What is a stem cell? As you will recall from high school or college biology classes, in the beginning of cellular mitosis one cell divides into two and two divide into four until somewhere along the line the cells begin to differentiate into various types of tissues. Obviously this differentiation must occur in order that the 200 or so different cell types that make up the human body can be realized. If they remained the same cell type then a featureless mass of cells with no particular purpose would result. Think of a stem cell as the early cells that have the potential to develop into any type of specific cell like those that eventually become a heart or liver. Scientists are discovering ways to coax stem cells into developing into a desired cell type so specific tissues can grow at will. As technology advances these resulting tissues may be able to become replacements for damaged organs. Monday’s topic: Where do stem cells come from?