What Are Adult Stem Cells?
Related News: Stem Cell DefinitionsAdult Stem Cells are again another category of Stem Cells. We have coveredso far:
What Stem Are Cells?
and
What Are Embryonic Stem Cells?
Now lets get a simple but solid answer to this one.
Adult Stem Cells are stem cells that are found among already differentiated cells in a tissue or organ. Like other stem cells, these cells can renew themselves, and can differentiate to yield the major specialized cell types of the tissue or organ.
The primary role of adult stem cells is to maintain and repair the specific tissue in which they are found.
Additional names for Adult Stem Cells are Somatic Stem Cells.
Unlike embryonic stem cells, which are defined by their origin (the inner cell mass of the blastocyst), the origin of adult stem cells in mature tissues is only now being discovered.
Scientists have found Somatic Stem Cells in many tissues within the body .. more than they once thought possible. This finding has led scientists and biomedical companies to charge full blast into research using Somatic Stem Cells in an effort to avoid ethical concerns revolving around Embryonic Stem Cell research.
For that matter, Somatic Stem Cells within bone marrow have been used in transplants for 30 years.
As we have written over the last couple of years, the differentiation of Somatic Stem Cells can be to some degree controlled in the laboratory. These types of stem cells will likely become the foundation of therapies for many serious common diseases.
See also stem cell therapies - note - long list
Posted on February 17, 2005 03:45 PM