Stem Cells: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:33, 24 October 2007

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-==stem cell terminology==
+#REDIRECT [[Stem cell]]
-Stem cells refer to the category of cells within an organism that are able to self-renew as well as differentiate into more specific cell fates.  There are 2 major classes of naturally occurring stem cells in vertebrate animals: embryonic and adult.  Another category of stem cells are derrived from differentiated tissues that are then induced to become "stem cell-like;" these are referred to as [[induced pluripotent stem cells]] (iPS cells).1
-Common terminology within the field refers to the "potency" of the stem cell.
-*Totipotency implies that a cell is capable of generating an entire organism.  (ex. a fertilized egg)
-*Pluripotancy implies that a cell is capable of differentiating into a cell belonging to any of the three major germ/tissue layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm ), but is not capable of generating an entire organism.  (ex. embryonic stem cells)
-*Multipotency implies that a cell is capable of differentiating into a variety of more specific cell types, however it is usually restrictd to only one or two of the germ layers.  (ex. most adult stem cells).
-==references==
-.  Takahashi K, Yamanaka S.  Induction of pluripotent stem cells from mouse embryonic and adult fibroblast cultures by defined factors.  Cell. 2006 Aug 25;126(4):663-76. Epub 2006 Aug 10.  PMID: 16904174 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]