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Adult and embryonic stem cells share two important and scientifically intriguing properties: they can renew themselves almost indefinitely, and they can form multiple cell types.
Decades of research on adult stem cells have brought advanced bone marrow transplants that save thousands of lives. Recent studies of human embryonic stem cells have produced extraordinary scientific advances—most recently, the ability to create embryonic-stem-cell-like cells without using an embryo or egg. And investigations into other animals with astonishing abilities of self-renewal, such as planarian flatworms, provide an important additional perspective on mechanisms of regeneration. Whitehead scientists work at the cutting edge in all of these fields.
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Recent research in adult stem cells
ARTICLES
There will be blood stem cells
Human cells are multiplied 20-fold in culture, offering promise for bone-marrow transplants.

A simple twist of cell fate
Tapping an embryonic program, adult cells gain properties of stem cells.
MULTIMEDIA
Embryonic pathway delivers stem cell traits
Whitehead Member Robert Weinberg April 2008
[view
video 220k]
Video length: 03:41
Regenera- tion in planaria
From the Whitehead exhibit at the MIT Museum October 2007
[interactive presentation]
How evolution reused its inventions
Whitehead Member Peter Reddien October 2007
[view
video 220k]
Video length: 02:16
Growing blood-form- ing
stem cells in culture— implications for human
medicine
Whitehead Member Harvey Lodish February 2007
[view
video 220k]
Video length: 51:02
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