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How are embryonic stem cells different from adult stem cells?
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stem cell
Stem cells of neural and hematopoietic origin have tremendous potential in the development of therapies for certain diseases, such as diabetes and Parkinson disease. Neural stem cells occur in the spinal cord and in specific regions of the brain, and hematopoietic stem cells occur in the blood and bone marrow.
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult stem cells differ primarily in their origin, their ability to be cultured, and their developmental potential.
- Origin and Culturing: ESCs are derived from the inner cell mass of a mammalian blastocyst. They can be harvested once and cultured indefinitely in a laboratory setting. In contrast, adult stem cells are found in specific tissues within the body, such as skeletal muscle, and are often difficult to harvest and maintain in culture.12
- Developmental Potential: ESCs are pluripotent, meaning they possess the capacity to differentiate into any cell type found in the adult organism. While adult stem cells play a vital role in organ homeostasis and regeneration, they are generally more limited in their differentiation potential compared to the broad versatility of ESCs.234
- Clinical Considerations: Because ESCs are derived from embryos, they may be subject to immune rejection when used in therapies. To address this, researchers have developed induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which are adult somatic cells reprogrammed to behave like pluripotent ESCs.2