Stem Cell Glossary

Stem cell : A stem cells is a cell from the embryo, fetus or adult that has capability to reproduce itself. It can give rise to specialized cell that make up the tissues and organs of the body.

Pluripotent stem cell : Pluripotent stem cell has the ability to give rise to various types of the cells that develop from the three germ layers viz. mesoderm, endoderm and ectoderm  from which all the cells of the body arise. The only known sources of human pluripotent stem cells are those isolated and cultured from early human embryos and from fetal tissues.

Embryonic Stem cells : An embryonic stem cells is derived from a group of cells called the inner  cell mass , a part of blastocyst. Once removed from the blastocyst  , the cells of the inner cell mass can be cultured into embryonic stem cells. These embryonic stem cells are not themselves embryos.

Embryonic Germ Cell : An embryonic germ cell is derived from fetal tissue. Specifically, they are isolated from the primordial germ cells of the gonadal ridge of the 5 -to 10 week fetus. Later in development, the gonadal ridge develops into the testes or ovaries and the primordial germ cells give rise to eggs or sperm . embryonic stem and embryonic germ cells are pluripotent but are not identical in the properties.

Adult Stem Cell : An adult stem cells is an undifferentiated cell that occurs in a differentiated tissue, renews itself, and becomes specialized cell types of the tissue from which it originated.

Plasticity: Plasticity is the ability of an adult stem cell from one tissue to generate the specialized cell type (s) of another tissue.

Clonality derived stem cell : A cell is said to be clonally derived or to exhibit clonality if it was generated by the division of a single cell and is genetically identical to that cell.

Progenitor cell : A progenitor cell occurs in fetal or adult tissues and is partially specialized , it divides and gives rise to differentiated cells.

[ Home ] [ OLCODIBS]    [ E-mail ]   [ Homepages ]  [ Protocols ]  [ Forums ]