Stem Cells - The Basics

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

Research on stem cells is advancing knowledge about how an organism develops from a single cell and
how healthy cells replace damaged cells in adult organisms. This promising area of science is also
leading scientists to investigate the possibility of cell-based therapies to treat disease, which is often
referred to as regenerative or reparative medicine.

Stem cells are one of the most fascinating areas of biology today. But like many expanding fields of
scientific inquiry, research on stem cells raises scientific questions as rapidly as it generates new
discoveries.

We will take you dear readers through various topics related to Stem Cells to understand the answers to questions such as:
What are stem cells?
What different types of stem cells are there and where do they come from?
What is the potential for new medical treatments using stem cells?
What research is needed to make such treatments a reality?

Source: http://stemcells.nih.gov