Stem Cells : What Are They? Many types of stem cells exist in the human body. All have the capacity to replicate, to self-renew; and they have the capacity to differentiate in order to produce specific body parts such as muscle cells,

and valuable source of cells. Second, ES cells appear genetically normal, both by a series of genetic tests and functionally as shown by the creation of mice with genomes derived entirely from ES cells. In mice these cells are developmentally

the Sources of Stem Cells At present, there are three possible sources of stem cells: adult stem cells derived from pediatric or adult donors; embryo germ cell stem cells (EG cells ) derived from aborted fetuses; and embryonic stem

of the body require stem cells for normal turnover and repair. Stem cells that are found in developed tissue, regardless of the age of the organism at the time, are referred to as adult stem cells. The most well-known example of this are

animal studies that stem cells can be made to differentiate into cells of choice, and that these cells will act properly in their transplanted environment. In human beings, transplants of hematopoietic stem cells (the cells which eventually

status to it. Since most cells in the human body possess a unique diploid genome and are not regarded as morally protectable, the question of whether ES cells are morally equivalent to somatic cells or whether they are more like human

is it that pluripotent stem cells are one step down the embryonic staircase? Totipotent stem cells are capable of producing all tissue, including the trophoblast necessary for implantation. Totipotent stem cells have the potential of becoming

Stem Cells Stem cells are essentially undifferentiated cells. There are many kinds of stem cells, some more differentiated than others. When they divide, their progeny mature and specialize into a specific type of cell (i.e.

Human Embryonic Germ Cells Embryonic germ cells are derived from primordial germline cells in early fetal tissue during a narrow window of development. Unlike embryonic stem cells , animal experiments on embryonic germ cells have been

Sources of Stem Cells and Guidelines for Use Securingstem cells for research, whether from children, adults, aborted fetuses, or embryos, must be done under conditions of the most rigorous integrity for several reasons. These are to