What is Stem Cell Research?
What is Stem Cell Research?
Joslin Diabetes Center
Stem cells are the key ingredient needed to form every tissue in the human body. These cells represent the first stage of this process: they can copy themselves over and over and they are able to mature into different types of cells.
There are two basic types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Imagine embryonic stem cells as seeds that can give rise to an entire tree. Imagine adult stem cells as specialized cells that could only produce a certain part of the tree such as the leaves or the bark.
* Embryonic stem cells, derived from immature cells of an embryo, can give rise to any type of cell in the body.
* There are many examples of adult stem cells, which are found in the body after birth and produce cells particular to the organ or tissue in which they are found.
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