Stem cell differentiation is the process where stem cells develop into specialized cells. Potency determines how many cell types a stem cell can mature into. Researchers study embryonic development to learn about birth defects and an organism’s biological history.
Stem cell differentiation is a process in which a non-specialized stem cell develops into a particular type of tissue, such as a mature red blood cell. This occurs at all stages of life, from very early embryonic development to adulthood, as the body needs a constant supply of new specialized cells to function. Several factors are involved in cell differentiation, including environmental and biological triggers for various cell types.
The number of different cell types a stem cell can mature into is reflected by its potency. A totipotent cell can develop into any cell type at maturity. Such cells are found in the early stages of embryonic blastocyst development, when each cell must be capable of giving rise to a variety of cells for an embryo to develop. As embryonic development progresses, stem cells become pluripotent in nature, with the ability to diverge into a variety of cell types, but not all.
Multipotent stem cells can differentiate into several related cell types. For example, hematopoietic cells that give rise to different types of blood cells can undergo stem cell differentiation to turn into white or red blood cells. However, they cannot turn into stomach lining or neurons. Multipotent cells of this nature are commonly found in adult organisms to provide continuous fresh cells to replace older worn out and damaged cells.
In stem cell differentiation, a stem cell receives a signal to start maturing. The cell can go through several life stages before becoming a mature cell. At any time, a failure can occur and the airframe can become warped or develop other problems. The immune system stays alert to these cells so it can take steps to destroy them and recycle their components before they have the opportunity to fully develop and cause problems. The body is in constant need of new blood and skin cells, among others, and relies on stem cell differentiation to meet this need.
Scientific researchers have a particular interest in the differentiation of embryonic stem cells due to their totipotent and pluripotent properties. They study embryonic development to learn more about how cells mature and the order in which various structures occur during the development of an embryo. This can provide important information about birth defects, as well as an organism’s biological history. Many organisms exhibit parallel embryonic development up to a certain stage, where they begin to look radically different, much like fully matured specimens of different species. These similarities in development can hint at the evolutionary history of various organisms.
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