Stem Cell Definitions and Terms Science Education

How to Use CellTalk

Using the best sources of credible information on the web, CellTalk discusses the most important issues surrounding the science of stem cells.

Find the level of content that best suits you. Use this KEY to determine your level of understanding:

Novice

Intermediate
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Links to FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions: Find Answers to General Questions

Tell Me More About Stem Cells

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The National Institutes of Health

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EuroStemCell

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Int'l Society for Stem Cell Research

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International Stem Cell Forum

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Download a resource book on stem cells from the National Academies of Science pdf icon

Understanding Stem Cells

CellTalk #3 - Distinguishing among the three types of "differentiation"

CellTalk #1 taught you that stem cells are unspecialized. Researchers would say that stem cells are undifferentiated.

During the process of maturing, stem cells become increasingly more specialized. In other words they become differentiated mature cell types.

Test your understanding - pick the correct category sequence from undifferentiated to most differentiated:

Pluripotent, multipotent, totipotent, unipotent
Multipotent, totipotent, pluripotent, unipotent
Unipotent, multipotent, pluripotent, totipotent
Totipotent, pluripotent, multipotent, unipotent

Don�t know? Check out CellTalk #2.

Now, some exciting news! Researchers have figured out a way to reprogram mature human differentiated cells back to an earlier stage of development. These de-differentiated cells are called iPS cells or induced Pluripotent Stem cells. De-differentiation is a cellular reprogramming process that occurs naturally in lower forms of both animal AND plant life. Way cool-school science!

Here is a diagram to help you picture this set of relationships:

Differentiation

Undifferentiated eSC* right arrow