Stem Cells Defined
Stem cells- The Basics
Stem cells- A stem cell is the base of the human cell from which many of the organs and parts of the body derive from. They are special and can be told from normal cells because they can renew or multiply themselves and can arise to become cells that have abilities such as beating a heart or producing insulin.
There are two types of stem cells found in humans and animals
Embryonic stem cells
Adult stem cells
Potency is defined as the power to differentiate into other types of cells. Stem cells possess two properties, self-renewal and unlimited potency. Self-renewal is the process of going through cell division, keeping their one cell type throughout the process. Unlimited potency is when a cell is able to transform and take the properties of any cell type in the organism.
There are many types of potent stem cells which are:
Unipotent - Unipotent stem cells can be that of only one cell type but can be distinguished from non-stem cells
Multipotent - Multipotent cells can transform into cells closely related to their original cell type such as red blood cells taking the properties of white blood cells.
Pluripotent - Pluripotent cells can differentiate into cells only obtained from the three germ layers which are the endoderm, mesoderm and the ectoderm.
Totipotent - Totipotent stem cells can transform into any cell of the organism, making them the most potent or having the most power to create any type of tissue or cell in the body compared to the other types stem cells.