There are two types of stem cells , adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells .
- Adult stem cells are found in mature tissues (bone marrow, skin, brain etc) that can self-renew and give rise to other cell types from their tissue of origin, thereby producing a steady supply of new cells to maintain that tissue throughout life. In general, adult stem cells from one organ do not give rise to cell types from other organs.
- However, the embryonic stem (ES) cell warrants special attention as it is uniquely malleable and can make any part of the body. In some sense, ES cells represent the parent of all stem cells and provide a window into the first stages of the life.
[ via The Harvard Stem Cell Institute ]