What is a stem cell?
Quick Answer
A stem cell is an unspecialised cell that can divide to make more of itself and develop into specialised cells such as muscle, blood or nerve cells.
The Full Story
Stem cells are the body's raw materials, able to both self-renew and differentiate into other cell types. Embryonic stem cells can become almost any cell in the body, while adult stem cells, found in tissues like bone marrow, are more limited. In 2006 Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka discovered how to reprogramme ordinary adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, winning a share of the 2012 Nobel Prize. Bone marrow transplants, a form of stem cell therapy, have been used to treat leukaemia since the late 1950s and 1960s. Researchers are exploring stem cells to repair damaged hearts, eyes and spinal cords.
Key Facts
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"The cells that can become anything"