I think it's the embryonic stem cell, but I'm not sure. Please provide a link or an explanation.
2006-12-18 12:00:56 · 3 answers · asked by thegreenmooseofdoom 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Scientists believe the most useful stem cells come from the tissue of embyros.
This is because they are pluripotent - they have the ability to become virtually any type of cell within the body.
Stem cells are also found within adult organs. They have not taken on a final role, and have the potential to become any of the major specialised cell types within that organ.
Their role is to maintain the organ in a healthy state by repairing any damage it suffers.
It is thought their potential to become other types of cell is more limited than that of embryonic stem cells. But there is evidence that they are still relatively "plastic".
2006-12-18 12:04:32 · answer #1 · answered by jamaica 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are right - it has the potential to be ANYTHING in the body. The pro lifers are the ones trying to say that a stem cell is a stem cell.
2006-12-18 12:09:30 · answer #2 · answered by justwondering 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jamaica is close, but has the wrong word- it isn't pluripotency, which just means most tissues, it is totipotency, which means that a stem cell has the ability to differentiate into ALL cell types.
2006-12-18 12:53:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋