What are Stem Cells ?
- Stem
cells are a particular kind of cells,with two characteristics:
- they are unspecialized cells that can divide over
and over for very long periods of time;
- under certain conditions, they can be induced to become cells with special
functions (like muscle cells, neurons etc.)
- Stem
cells are naturally occurring in the human body (and other living organisms)
at all levels of development.
- As
organisms develop, stem cells become specialized types of cells. They are
harder to find, and lose much of their ability to differentiate.
- Stem
cells are the way the organism generates all the differentiated cells needed
for development and proper functioning.
Mugur Roz