Stem Cells .. Basics and Applications

Stem cells are cells that divide to form one daughter cell that goes on to differentiate, and one daughter cell that retains its stem-cell properties. All stem cells regardless of their source have three general properties: they are unspecialized, they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods, and under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become cells with special functions, i.e. they can give rise to specialized cell types.