Glossary
Terms Used in Stem Cell Research
Adult stem cell — An undifferentiated cell found in a differentiated tissue that can renew itself and differentiate to yield the specialized cell types of the tissue from which it originated. Blastocyst — A preimplantation embryo of 30 to 150 cells. The blastocyst consists of a sphere made up of an outer layer of cells, a fluid-filled cavity, and a cluster of cells on the interior. Clonality — A line of cells that is genetically identical to the original cell; in this case, a stem cell. Differentiation — The process whereby an unspecialized early embryonic cell acquires the features of…
