The difference between embryonic and adult stem cells

There are three types of stem cells, each with different properties

Embryonic stem cells are "blank slates" that can change into any other type of cell. Adult stem cells can become specialized cells to replenish the supply or repair injury, while induced pluripotent cells are "reset" by scientists and used in clinical and medical applications.

Embryonic stem cells can develop into any other cell type in the body

Embryonic stem cells emerge around five days after fertilization, during the blastocyst stage of embryonic development. At this point, the embryo consists of about 100 to 150 cells and forms a hollow structure, and these cells are the ultimate source of all other cell types during fetal development.

Using stem cells for bone marrow transplants

Stem cells hold promise for many future medical applications, but only one type of stem cell is currently approved for use. This page offers a clear description of adult stem cells called hematopoietic stem cells, which create the full range of blood cells and are approved for use in treatments such as bone marrow transplants.

Stem cells have the ability to self-renew

Stem cells have remarkable potential for new medical therapies. But to understand what makes stem cells so special, you must understand exactly what they are, and what they’re capable of doing. This page offers an accessible introduction to stem cell biology and their unique properties.

Stem cells develop into a wide range of other specialized cells in the human body

Stem cells are different from other cells because they are capable of creating copies of themselves and producing other types of cells. For example, the ones found in our brains, bones, or muscles. Curious about stem cells? Here's a breakdown of how they work.

What conditions can be treated with stem cells?

Stem cell research is a global enterprise, and much of the work is being done in Europe. This page gives readers a good sense of the medical conditions stem cell researchers in Europe focus on, and the specific research challenges they address. This page also offers links to in-depth information about many of the research projects.

In vitro gametogenesis: using induced stem cells to fertilize eggs

Using stem cells from skin and mouth cells could save hopeful parents time and money and spare egg donors from significant amounts of discomfort throughout the process. There are potential consequences, not just for infertility treatment, but for the ability to create customized cells of any type.

A Nobel laureate discuss whether stem cells can extend lifespan

Listen to Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka discuss the potential of induced pluripotent stem cells to extend human lifespan. By reprogramming adult cells into embryonic-like stem cells, scientists might be able to rejuvenate tissues and treat age-related diseases—though ethical and safety concerns remain.

How skeletal and smooth muscles differ

Skeletal and smooth muscles are two of the three muscle types found throughout the body. The former is attached to bones via tendons, enables limb movement, and is consciously controlled. The latter is found lining blood vessels and hollow organs (e.g., the intestines, stomach, and esophagus) and is managed by the autonomic nervous system, which means it's outside conscious control.

US federal researchers are blocked from putting certain human cells in animals

In 2015, US policymakers put a halt to any government-funded work that would insert human stem cells into animals. The reasoning was that human cells might spread through the animal's body and perhaps to its brain, blurring the line between humans and nonhumans. The ban remains in place today even as gene-edited pig parts are being placed in humans.

Cells are categorized by the presence of contained genetic material and other organelles

While prokaryotes contain one or more cells with free-floating genetic material in a region called the nucleoid, eukaryotes possess a nucleus specialized for DNA storage. Plant cells possess cell walls—a reinforced structure surrounding their membrane—made of cellulose, while fungal cell walls contain chitin. Animal cells have lysosomes housing enzymes that break down biomolecules. (Some readers may experience a paywall.)

Organoids: 3D organs grown from stem cells in the lab

An organoid is a three-dimensional construct composed of multiple cell types that originate from stem cells that can simulate the architecture and functionality of native organs. One big benefit of these lab-grown organs is that drug candidates can be tested in model systems without needing live patients.

The difference between standard cancer treatments and emerging immunotherapies

If you've ever wondered what the difference was between immunotherapy and chemotherapy, this short video takes you through the steps. Briefly, chemotherapy attacks cancer in tumor cells directly, while immunotherapy encourages your immune system to fight it. There's more to it than that, but this delightful two-and-a-half-minute video provides a good primer.

The first line of 'immortal' human cells, which can divide indefinitely and are used in scientific research, was nonconsensually taken from a Black woman.

Cellular aging and deterioration leads to tissue (and overall) aging

Cells are the building blocks of life, forming tissues and organs that keep our bodies working. As we age, cellular changes have progressive consequences on both the structure and function of our organs. This article examines this complex relationship as it relates to the incremental changes associated with aging.

How do anxiety and stress differ?

This article explains that though “stress” and “anxiety” are often used interchangeably, there are distinct differences between the two. Stress is defined as the body's response to an external trigger and can be classified as acute or chronic. Anxiety, however, tends to be triggered internally by excessive thoughts and judgement. Whereas stress disappears when the trigger is gone, anxiety tends to stick around. If left unchecked, both can escalate into more severe mental health conditions.

Left versus right brain strokes vary significantly in long-term effects

Due to the high complexity of the brain, the aftereffects of a stroke can have widely different manifestations, ranging from minor temporary impairments to rapid death. Whether a stroke results in paralysis, speech impairments, loss of bodily function, or death will depend on whether it occurs in the left or right hemispheres or the brain stem.

Core memories are a popularized version of autobiographical memories

Core memories are not limited to five key events, do not individually shape personality traits, and are not formed in childhood. Our strongest memories are formed in early adulthood, but are as prone to error as any other memory.

Why do humans have such long childhoods?

Humans have over twice as long childhoods than other animals with similar lifespans like whales and elephants. A human child can grow for nearly 20 years before they become a reproducing adult. Researchers believe there's a connection between long childhoods and human's unusually large brain size, though the science is not totally clear. Dive into what scientists know here.

Around 5 million of our 3 billion DNA letters differ between individuals

Genetic testing examines gene variants to help explain disease symptoms. It explores how genetic differences between individuals can be used to understand risks of developing diseases like Huntington's Disease or passing variants linked to disease onto offspring.

Bone marrow (soft tissue found inside certain bones) generates roughly 500 billion new blood cells each day

IVF is legal across America, but some worry that state bans could curtail this reproductive technology

This reproductive technology is available across the US, but if states take action to prohibit the discarding of unused embryos or pass related legislation, it could affect access to IVF. Laws prohibiting IVF or effectively outlawing the procedure by defining personhood as being conferred at the moment of conception have been under discussion in several states in recent years, including Ohio, Virginia, and Texas.

Adults are developing food allergies that they didn’t have as children

Research published in 2019 found that almost half of 40,000 surveyed adults with food allergies developed a new food allergy as adults, underscoring that our immune systems may newly misclassify substances later in life.

Open-end and closed-end funds differ in how they create and distribute shares

Open-end funds are able to create new shares on a daily basis, while closed-end funds have a set number of shares. This impacts the way shares are traded on the open market, and the way they’re priced.

There are more than a dozen types of different emergency medicine specialties

This video details medical subspecialties in emergency medicine, including medical toxicology, pediatric emergency medicine, undersea and hyperbaric medicine, hospice medicine, and more. It discusses where these types of specialists may work, including beyond a hospital setting.

The two main types of life insurance are term and permanent

The biggest difference between the two is how long they cover the life of the insured person and how much they cost. This guide can help you learn more about term and permanent life insurance, plus their different variations, to choose the right policy for you.

Indefinite cloning of some endangered species may not sustain their longevity because cloning success rates decrease as genetic mutations accumulate.

The origin of cyborgs

The term "cyborg" was coined in a 1960 academic paper discussing what alterations humans would need to undergo to survive in extraterrestrial environments, a venture far "more logical than providing an earthly environment" in space. According to authors Manfred E. Clynes and Nathan S. Kline, Cyborgs with a capital C have incorporated exogenous components that extend their ability to adapt to new environments. Read the paper here.

The syncytiotrophoblast is the outer layer of the placenta and the largest human cell, spanning an area about twice that of a king-sized bedsheet.

Alzheimer's can lead to brain shrinkage, with an average of around 2% of volume reduction per year

Visualize how CRISPR-Cas9—a type of immune system used by single-celled organisms to attack invasive viruses—targets and makes precise changes to a gene's DNA.

About 2,000 US babies are born annually without some portion of their limbs, potentially leading to a lifetime of pricey prosthetics.

Planarian flatworms are small, aquatic worms with exceptional regenerative capabilities. When cut, the worms can regenerate multiple bodies in a matter of weeks.

Crows are believed to have intelligence on par with a seven-year-old child and demonstrate complex behaviors, from problem-solving with tools to recognizing human faces.

Doctors differentiate between a phobia and fear by asking patients whether their fear interferes with their day-to-day activities.

How fusion—which releases energy when two lighter atoms combine to form a heavier atom—differs from fission

Three Ebola species are responsible for most large outbreaks of the disease, yet the only approved Ebola vaccine is known to work against just one of them.

Hookworm infection, though risky, may help fight certain autoimmune conditions by tamping down the immune system's inflammatory response.

Studies suggest when you sleep is as important as how much you get, and syncing with your circadian rhythms may lead to less fatigue and improved long-term health outcomes

Budweiser stores yeast derived from the original 1800s strain in a secret bunker, which only the Head of Yeast Management can access—not even the CEO

Memecoins are a type of cryptocurrency—a form of digital currency with a wide variety of uses—created around popular 'memes,' or viral internet jokes.

Scientists can determine Earth's past climate conditions by analyzing air trapped in microscopic bubbles within ice cores—columns of compressed snow layers that build up over hundreds of thousands of years.

Play the role of a student in a game where you try to navigate college and remain debt-free, selecting different income levels, high school experience, race, ethnicity, and more.

Venture capital is a form of funding provided to early-stage companies with high growth potential, typically in exchange for an equity (or ownership) stake

Children are now three times more likely to say they want to be a YouTuber when they grow up than an astronaut, with some even attending 'YouTube camps' that teach kids how to create content for the platform.

Some Pokémon have been named after real and fictional organisms, while some real-world species have been named after Pokémon, such as Chilicola charizard and Binburrum zapdos.

Despite being favored by 87% of Americans, Congress does not have term limits.

The Brothers Grimm were lawyers before they were storytellers, but became interested in fairy tales as they began investigating how rules and customs had been passed down through cultures.

Power lines are dotted with large, brightly colored balls to improve the visibility of these thin wires to helicopters and small planes and help prevent potential crashes.

Poison ivy's rash-causing compound is found in the plant's roots, stem, and leaves—so coming into contact with any part of the plant can lead to rashes for the 85% of people who are allergic to it.