Preventing, treating and curing diseases - AQA SynergyStem cells

Some diseases can be treated with antibiotics, but not all can be cured. Vaccinations allow protection against specific diseases, but the level of protection depends on the amount of people vaccinated.

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Stem cells

Find out where stem cells come from and how they are used in humans and plants

Stem cells in humans

are cells that have not undergone . A cell which has not yet become is called undifferentiated.

An develops from a fertilised egg. Cells at the early stages in the development of the embryo are stem cells.

If cells are removed from the embryo - called - they will differentiate into any cell type.

Some stem cells remain in the bodies of adults - . Adult stem cells are found in limited numbers at certain locations in the body.

Adult stem cells can be found in several regions of the body, including the:

  • brain
  • eyes
  • blood
  • heart
  • liver
  • bone marrow
  • skin
  • muscle

Adult stem cells can differentiate into related cell types only, for instance, cells can differentiate into blood cells and cells of the but not other cell types.

Learn more about stem cells with Dr Alex Lathbridge.

Dr Alex Lathbridge breaks down the key facts about stem cells. Listen to the full series on BBC Sounds.

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