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Summary
Stem cells are cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body. They serve as a repair system for the body. There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.
Stem cells are different from other cells in the body in three ways:
- They can divide and renew themselves over a long time
- They are unspecialized, so they cannot do specific functions in the body
- They have the potential to become specialized cells, such as muscle cells, blood cells, and brain cells
Doctors and scientists are excited about stem cells because they could help in many different areas of health and medical research. Studying stem cells may help explain how serious conditions such as birth defects and cancer come about. Stem cells may one day be used to make cells and tissues for therapy of many diseases. Examples include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injury, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.
NIH: National Institutes of Health
Related Issues
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Cord Blood Testing and Banking
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Donating Peripheral Blood Stem Cells (National Marrow Donor Program) Also in Spanish
- Donating Stem Cells and Bone Marrow (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
- Life After Bone Marrow or Blood Stem Cell Transplant (National Marrow Donor Program)
- Planning for a Transplant -- Blood Stem Cell (Health Resources and Services Administration)
- Treatment Before Transplant (National Marrow Donor Program)
- What Should I Ask Before Considering an Unproven Stem Cell Treatment? (International Society for Stem Cell Research)
Specifics
- 9 Things to Know about Stem Cell Treatments (International Society for Stem Cell Research)
- About Transplantation -- Blood Stem Cell (Health Resources and Services Administration)
- Getting a Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
- Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant Side Effects (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
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Stem Cell Transplants in Cancer Treatment
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
- Types of Stem Cells (International Society for Stem Cell Research)
- Umbilical Cord Blood Donation Process and FAQs (National Marrow Donor Program) Also in Spanish
Videos and Tutorials
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Becoming a Blood Stem Cell Donor
(National Cancer Institute)
Statistics and Research
- Donation and Transplantation Statistics (Health Resources and Services Administration)
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Focus on Stem Cell Research
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hematopoietic Stem Cells
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Stem Cell Transplantation
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Stem Cells
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Electrical Stimulation of Oral Tissue-Derived Stem Cells: Unlocking New Potential for...
- Article: Tissue Stem Cell-Based Therapies in Parkinson's Disease: A Scoping Review of...
- Article: Mitsugumin 53 drives stem cell differentiation easing intestinal injury and inflammation.
- Stem Cells -- see more articles
Reference Desk
- Stem Cell Glossary (International Society for Stem Cell Research)
Find an Expert
- Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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NIH Stem Cell Information
(National Institutes of Health)
- Public Cord Blood Banks and Donation Hospitals (National Marrow Donor Program)
Children
- Stem Cell Transplants (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Stem Cell Transplants (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Bone marrow (stem cell) donation (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish