Stem cells

• Stem cells


  Cells that can divide by mitosis to form more cells and can differentiate into specialized cells
• Stem cells


  • Can divide by mitosis to form more cells
  • Can differentiate into specialized cells
• Human life starts


  1. Sperm cell fertilizes egg cell

  2. Forms zygote

  3. Zygote divides by mitosis repeatedly

  4. Forms embryo

  5. Embryonic stem cells can differentiate into any cell type

  6. Cells continue to divide and differentiate

  7. Leads to baby after 9 months
• Embryonic stem cells


  Stem cells found in the embryo that can differentiate into any cell type
• Adult stem cells


  Stem cells found in adults that can only differentiate into a narrow range of cell types
• Adult stem cells


  • Stem cells in bone marrow that can differentiate into blood cells
• Plant stem cells


  Stem cells found in meristem tissues of plants that can differentiate into all the cells and tissues the plant needs
• Plant stem cells persist for the plant's entire life, unlike embryonic stem cells which disappear by the time we're fully developed