Medicine & Health
What is Stem cells?
Stem cells are special cells that can develop into many different cell types and renew themselves. They're the body's raw material — repairing tissue and, in medicine, holding promise for treating disease.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains stem cells.
Key things to understand
- 1They can become specialized cells (muscle, nerve, blood, etc.).
- 2They self-renew, making more stem cells.
- 3Embryonic stem cells can become any type; adult stem cells are more limited.
- 4They're used and researched for regenerative medicine.
Frequently asked questions
- What makes stem cells special?
- They can both renew themselves and develop into many different specialized cell types.
- What are stem cells used for?
- Treating some blood and immune diseases today, and researched for repairing tissue and treating many conditions.
- What's the difference between embryonic and adult stem cells?
- Embryonic can become any cell type; adult stem cells are more limited to certain types.