Cord Blood Stem Cells Information

Stem cells?

OK im reading info on stem cells and it says in this one im reading that there are four types of stem cells. Totipotent,Pluripotent,Multipotent,and Progenitor cells. http://www.stemcellresearchfoundation.org/About/FAQ.htm#1 I have ben reading alot about it and I found many articles with mistakes so I want to know if its the right information. 3 or 4 types of stem cells???

Public Comments

1. A progenitor cell is not a stem cell, but the others are. See the links below for more info on how they are defined.
2. Totipotent, pluripotent and multipotent are just names given to types of cells that can differentiate into many cells, one cell, or more than one cell (respectively). Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, which means they have the capability to differentiate into many types of cells.This pluripotency is highly desirable by researchers because they can subject ES cells to a variety of culture conditions to get the exact cells that they want. ES cells can be obtained from a morula stage embryo and from the inner mass of a blastocyst embryo. Adult stem cells remain multipotent and do not have the capability to differentiate into many cell types like embryonic stem cells. Multipotent cells are committed to a certain fate. Like a neuron in an adult can not develop into a muscle cell. They can be found in primary mesenchyme cells in bone marrow, but they are rare. Researchers have had a hard time culturing them because they are multipotent. The umbilical cord contains pluripotent stem cells that have the ability to differentiate into cartilage, liver cells and neurons. Some physicians are now telling mothers to freeze their umbilical cord for the future treatment of any diseases their children might develop. Stem cells are the way of the future.. They will be highly useful in treating Parkinson's, osetoarthritis, and Alzheimers... Since there are some critics of ES cells, umbilical cells hold promise. Despite what critics have said, " fetuses " are not killed in stem cell development.
3. I could be wrong so you may want to double check this information: to date, and as far as I know, there are 3 principle types of mammalian stem cells. 1. Embryonic Stem Cells, ESC; 2. Adult Stem Cells, ASC; and, 3. Intermediate forms that demonstrate biochemical characteristics right there between ESCs and ASCs. Progenitor cells are themselves, stem cells. Progenitor cells have more to do with ASC cell types in maintaining, by way of a complex biochemical feedback network, a certain number of ASC cells in the body at all times in order to maintain the health of the organism.