Stem cells are undifferentiated cells able to divide
and differentiate into any kind of specialized cells. When this division occurs
it originates two daughter cells, one that remains as stem cell to assure their
maintenance and a specialized one such as a muscle cell or a red blood cell.
Usually, stem cells come from two main sources:
embryos formed during the blastocyst stage within the embryonic development also
called embryonic stem cells or from adult tissue that is called adult stem cells.
When compared with others cells types the stem cells
are distinguished by two important and singular characteristics. In first place
these cells are able to renew themselves through cell division even after
prolonged period of inactivity. Another characteristic is that under certain
experimental or physiologic conditions they can be induced to become a specific
organ or tissue with specialized cells.
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