• Question: What are the differences between Embryonic and Adult stem cells?

    Asked by tabbyboo to Emma, James, Jayne, Kara, Sharon on 15 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sharon Sneddon

      Sharon Sneddon answered on 15 Mar 2011:

      Hi Tabbyboo

      Adult and embryonic stem cells differ in the number and type of differentiated cells types they can become.

      Embryonic stem cells can become all cell types of the body because they are pluripotent.
      Adult stem cells are generally limited to turning into different cell types of their tissue of origin.

      Large numbers of embryonic stem cells can be relatively easily grown in culture, while adult stem cells are rare in and methods for increasing their numbers in cell culture have not yet been worked out. This is an important distinction, as large numbers of cells are needed for stem cell replacement therapies.

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