Stem cell Basics

Stem Cell Basics

Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide 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 to either 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.

Why stem cells are called "stem cells”?

Stem cells are called stem cells because of the way the word 'stem' is used. A dictionary will tell you that 'stem' means the main ascending (going up) stalk of a plant. Similarly there are main cells that grow through time, a main stem from which other stems can branch out from.

If you follow the origin of a particular cell backwards through its' life there are particular you will get to a point at which all the cells are essentially the same biochemically. The diagram below gives you an analogy of a tree stem and the types of cells that are derived from the main 'stem' or mother of all cells

The word 'stem' is thought to be from the old english but the word also can sometimes mean 'to stop or to slow down' (from old Norse) so it could be that stem cells tend to stop at a particular point and doesn't continue in the same direction for ever. As tem slows down and changes direction. For stem cells they tend to stop and slow down and turn into other types of cells.

For a more detailed discussion, see Stem Cells: Scientific Progress and Future Research Directions