What are adult stem cells and what does “multipotent” mean?
Now we know that embryonic stem cells are essentially the cells that make up the early embryo and then go on to differentiate into other cells to form the entire human being. So, what are those multipotent adult stem cells all about? After the blastocyst, or the hallow ball of cells is formed, it can be implanted into the uterus of a woman and continue to grow into a baby, and eventually an adult. Many of the embryonic stem cells would have formed tissues of the body, but some also develop into adult stem cells which reside in specific tissues (such as bone marrow) and give rise to specialized cells that replace old and dying cells. Adult stem cells are said to be multipotent, meaning they can give rise to only a few different types of cells. Sometimes adult stem cells are extracted for use in medical therapies such as bone marrow transplants, as well as research.
