Stem Cell Types
Despite their shared ability for
self-renewal and differentiation, stem
cells differ in the range of cells they can
differentiate into. Pluripotent stem cells
are those that can differentiate into any
cell type of the body, while multipotent
stem cells are usually restricted to the
handful of cell types that make up and
organ.
Pluripotent Stem Cells
Embryonic stem cells (ESC) that shape
the human body from conception are
pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent stem
cells must thus be capable of
differentiating into all cell types of the
body, such as nerves, skin cells, and
even multipotent stem cells that give
rise to blood cells and muscle cells.
They have the greatest potential for
medical application and, if successfully
applied, will render multipotent stem
cells obsolete for medical treatments as
anything multipotent stem cells can do
they can do better.
However, the medical application of
ESC is rife with controversy as the
destruction of an embryo is required for
their extraction.
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