Glossary of Stem Cell Terms

Adult stem cells are another way of referring to somatic stem cells. These cells are undifferentiated, meanngi they can develop into more than one type of cell belonging to the organ from which they were taken. They can self-renew indefinitely.

Stem cells that are taken from the patient’s own body.

A human blastocyst is an embryo at an early stage of development. It is formed about five days after fertilization and is made of about 70-100 cells.

The growth of cells in the laboratory in an artificial medium for the purposes of experimental research.

Treatment that uses living human cells, such as living tissue skin grafts

A line of genetically identical cells. Cloned cells all come from the same mother cell. Also, an organism produced form cloned cells from a single source.

At birth, an infant is connected via the umbilical cord to the placenta. Once the cord has been cut, the blood remaining in the cord is termed the cord blood. This blood is of interest to scientists because it contains stem cells. It is also referred to as umbilical cord blood.

A nutrient rich mixture used to grow cells, yeast or bacteria. Other growth factors may be added to bring about the desired changes in the cells.

The process by which unspecialized stem cells turn into specialized cells, such as red blood cells.

DNA is short for doxyribonucleic acid. It is a chemical found mostly in the nucleus of cells. DNA carries the blueprint for creating the structures and materials the body needs.

A neurotransmitter found in the brain. It has many functions, including a role in movement and controlling sleep. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from the reduction of the activity of pigmented dopamine-secreting cells in brain.

The ectoderm is the outer layer of cells produced from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst (early stage human embryo). The sensory organs (eyes, ears, etc.) nervous system, skin and other structures are created from the ectoderm.

Embryonic stem cells, as their name suggests, come from embryos. They are not derived from eggs fertilized in a woman's body, but from embryos that develop from eggs fertilized in vitro.

The endoderm is the iInner layer of the cells produced from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst (early stage embryo). It gives rise to lrespiratory structures including the ungs, and digestive organs, among others.

The removal the nuclear body of a cell.

These are stem cells found in the digestive tract. They give rise to absorptive cells, paneth cells, goblet cells, and enteroendocrine cells.

The joining together of the male gamete (sperm) with the female gamete (egg).

Stem cells that give rise to hair follicles and the epidermis (skin).

A reproductive cell: The egg in the female, or the sperm in the male.

Hematopoietic stem cells are a type of cell that develops into a variety of blood cells. They can be found in adult bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, the placenta, and other sources.

Meaning literally “in the glass”, in vitro refers to procedures performed under test conditions, such as in a test tube, rather than in a living organism.

A Latin phrase meaning "within the living". It is used to denote experimentation using a whole, living organism. In vivo is contrasted with in vitro ("in the glass"). In other words, experimentation done under controlled conditions.

Adult cells that have been reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell–like state.

A group of cells found in the mammalian blastocyst that give rise to the embryo and are potentially capable of forming all tissues, embryonic and extra embryonic, except the trophoblast.

Mesenchymal cells are also known as multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells. MSC are able to renew and differentiate into body fat, bone, and cartilage tissue.

The middle layer of cells produced from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. The cells give rise to muscle, bone, connective tissue, kidneys, and other structures.

The ability of a stem cell to develop into more than one type of cell.

Stem cell found in adult nerve tissue. A neural stem cell can give rise to neurons and glial cells.

An egg that has not yet matured.

The ability of a cell from one type of tissue to generate cell types of a different tissue.

A pluripotent cell is one which can differentiate into may cell types.

A progenitor cell (PC) is derived from one cell. It has a biological clock of 50 to 70 population doublings. It is the immediate precursor for adult differentiated cell types.

The process whereby one "mother" cell grows and divides to create two "daughter " cells.

The field of medicine that deals with the repair or replacement of lost or damaged tissue. An example of this is stem cell therapy. Regenerative medicine is also referred to as reparative medicine.

The field of medicine that deals with the repair or replacement of lost or damaged tissue. An example of this is stem cell therapy. Reparative medicine is also referred to as regenerative medicine.

Somatic stem cells are another way of referring to adult stem cells. These cells are undifferentiated, meaning they can develop into more than one type of cell belonging to the organ from which they were taken. They can self-renew indefinitely.

Stem cells that give rise to bone cells, cartilage cells, fat cells and other kinds of connective tissue, cells such as those found in tendons.

A cell that is totipotent can give rise to all the cell types in the body plus all of the cell types that producde the extraembryonic tissues, such as the placenta.

Often referred to simply as cord blood. At birth, an infant is connected via the umbilical cord to the placenta. Once the cord has been cut, the blood remaining in the cord is termed the cord blood. This blood is of interest because it contains stem cells.

A primitive cell that has not assumed the morphologic and functional characteristics it will later acquire.

The gelatinous substance found inside the umbilical cord. The jelly has recently been shown to be a source of potentially pluripotent stem cells.

A cell formed by the union of two gametes (an egg and sperm).