Basics
Stem cells have two properties that distinguish them from other cells. First, stem cells regenerate themselves. When a stem cell divides, it creates two daughter cells, the first of which is an exact replica of itself. Second, embryonic stem cells are “undifferentiated”—that is, they are not committed to becoming any particular type of cell, such as a neuron or skin cell.
These special cells hold unusual promise to improve human health. Here are resources with background information on stem cells and selected stories on the fast-moving research to understand them.
Overview:
Stem
cell research 101
Our primer defining different types of stem cells and exploring current trends in stem cell research
Embryonic stem cells:
Recipe for reprogramming (2008)
Creating neurons from mouse and rat IPS cells, and generating IPS cells from fully developed B cells
Break no eggs (2007)
Introducing the recently created embryonic-stem-cell-like “induced pluripotent stem” (IPS) cells
Adult stem cells:
There will be blood stem cells (2008)
Human blood stem cells are multiplied 20-fold in culture, offering promise for bone-marrow transplants
Promises and realities in embryonic stem cell research (2007)
Whitehead Member Rudolf Jaenisch explains that it's
still early days for the science, despite all the controversies.
Q&As on adult stem cells (2006)
Whitehead Fellow Fernando Camargo explaining where
adult stem cells are found, how
their therapeutic potential differs from that of embryonic
stem cells and how
adult stem cells are currently used to cure diseases
Power
in the blood (2006)
Progress in building up the adult stem cells that build your blood
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Embryonic pathway delivers stem cell traits
Regenera- tion in planaria
How evolution reused its inventions
Growing blood-form- ing
stem cells in culture— implications for human
medicine 
