Stem Cell History | A History of Stem Cell Research

A glossary of terms used in the stem cell research field:

Adult (or Somatic) Stem Cell An undifferentiated cell found in a differentiated tissue that can renew itself and differentiate (with certain limitations) to give rise to all the specialized cell types of the tissue from which it originated. It is important to note that scientists do not agree about whether or not adult stem cells may give rise to cell types other than those of the tissue from which they originate.

Astrocyte a type of supporting (glial) cell found in the nervous system.

Blastocoel The fluid-filled cavity inside the blastocyst of the developing embryo.

Blastocyst A pre-implantation embryo of about 150 cells produced by cell division following fertilization. The blastocyst is a sphere made up of an outer layer of cells (the trophoblast), a fluid-filled cavity (the blastocoel), and a cluster of cells on the interior (the inner cell mass).

Bone Marrow Stromal Cells A mixed population of stem cells found in bone marrow that does not give rise to blood cells but instead generates bone, cartilage, fat, and fibrous connective tissue.

Cell Division Method by which a single cell divides to create two cells. There are two main types of cell division: mitosis and meiosis.

Excerpt from:

Stem Cell History | A History of Stem Cell Research