Tell me about stem cells please.?

Stem: Two types, embryonic which cells can develop into any tissue or organ; adult - cells which are within tissues to help maintain themselves or regenerate/repair damage tissues. Adult cells are derived from fat tissue (by liposuction) and from bone marrow. Exciting use in tendon/ligament, muscle, joint, chronic wounds, radiation damage, etc. Are currently being used with platelet conc to heal tissu.

Adult stem cells: In addition to the indications that dr. Alexander outlined, i would add that there are scores of clinical trials underway using adult stem cells for cardiac, crohn's, ms, brain lesion, fistula, diabetes, orthopedic, liver, pulmonary, arthritis, and autism. In fact, just for adipose stem cells, there are currently 27 clinical trials actively recruiting. This is the future of medicine!

Definition stem cell: All humans first start as a fertilized ovum, which is totipotent ("potential to become every cell"). After several days, it grows into an embryo, comprised of embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are still very unspecialized, and are described as being pluripotent ("potential to become a wide variety of cells"). Adult stem cells are multipotent ("a limited potential for differentiation"}.