Stem Cell1.0 - App Store

The human body is made up of billions of cells, each one of

which is derived from a single fertilised 'egg cell'.

However, the body's cells are not all identical. There are

at least two hundred distinct cell types, all with different

features and functions, such as neurons (nerve cells), liver

cells, skin cells, and so on. These specialised cells are

the body's mature or fully differentiated, cells, all of

which are derived from their common ancestors, stem cells.

Stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are

able to differentiate into specialized cell types. Commonly,

stem cells come from two main sources:

1. Embryos formed during the blastocyst phase of

embryological development (embryonic stem cells) and 2.

Adult tissue (adult stem cells).

Both types are generally characterized by their potency, or

potential to differentiate into different cell types (such

as skin, muscle, bone, etc.).

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into

many different cell types in the body during early life and

growth. In addition, in many tissues they serve as a sort of

internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit

to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is

still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the

potential either to remain a stem cell or become another

type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a

muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.

Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two

important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized

cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division,

sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under

certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be

induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with

special functions. In some organs, such as the gut and bone

marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace

worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such

as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under

special conditions.

Requires iOS 3.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.