Stem cells

• Animal cell differentiation is the process by which an animal cell becomes specialized for its function Early stages of development and only for repair and replacement
• Plant cell differentiation is the process by which a plant cell becomes specialized for its function All stages of life cycle and the stem cells are grouped together in meristems
• Undifferentiated cells are called stem cells because they can differentiate into any type of cell.
• Stem cells have two main functions, to replace damaged tissue and to produce new tissue during growth and development.
• Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that were created through fertilization or cloning techniques.
• Adult stem cells are found in adult tissues such as bone marrow, blood vessels, skin, liver, brain, heart, muscle, gut, pancreas, testes, ovaries, and fatty tissue.
• Adult stem cells are found in various tissues throughout the body and are used to treat diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma.
• Human embryonic stem cells can differentiate into any type of cell in the body.