Why Are Stem Cells Important?

Stem cells are important because they are the body’s raw materials for growth, repair, and renewal. Unlike most specialized cells, stem cells can both self-renew (produce more stem cells) and differentiate into many different cell types, including muscle, nerve, blood, and skin cells. This remarkable ability makes them essential for life and a major focus of medical research. Every human begins as a single fertilized egg. As that cell divides, embryonic stem cells give rise...