Nervous System Stem Cells Can Replace Themselves, Give Rise to Variety of Cell Types
Stem cells in a new frontier in the bioengineering bringing a new paradigm for the treatment of just recently unheard of injuries of a spinal cord http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110630131828.htmWhat are stem cells?
Stem cells are unique since they didn't took yet a specific role in the functioning of the tissue belonging to an organ in the whole body. In different words the are not "specialized" cells but do have two critical properties: the inherited ability to differentiate into some other cells and an amazing phenomena of the self-regeneration.
The ability to differentiate is the potential to develop into other cell types. A totipotent stem cell (e.g. fertilized egg) can develop into all cell types including the embryonic membranes. Apleuripotent stem cell can develop into cells from all three germinal layers (e.g cells from the inner cell mass). Other cells can be oligopotent, bipotent or unipotent depending on their ability to develop into few, two or one other cell types. Another use of Self-regeneration is the ability of stem cells to divide and produce even more stem cells.
Stem cells are unique since they didn't took yet a specific role in the functioning of the tissue belonging to an organ in the whole body. In different words the are not "specialized" cells but do have two critical properties: the inherited ability to differentiate into some other cells and an amazing phenomena of the self-regeneration.
The ability to differentiate is the potential to develop into other cell types. A totipotent stem cell (e.g. fertilized egg) can develop into all cell types including the embryonic membranes. Apleuripotent stem cell can develop into cells from all three germinal layers (e.g cells from the inner cell mass). Other cells can be oligopotent, bipotent or unipotent depending on their ability to develop into few, two or one other cell types. Another use of Self-regeneration is the ability of stem cells to divide and produce even more stem cells.
