The Biology and Plasticity of Stem Cells: Progress and Promise

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can renew themselves through and into a diverse range of specialized cell types by a process to as plasticity. In recent years the properties of regenerating themselves or producing specialized cell types make stem cells appealing for scientists seeking to create medical treatments that replace lost or damaged cells. Especially repairing the vulnerable and normally non- regenerative tissues and organs such as heart tissue and neurons by stem cells are going to be promising treatment modalities in the future. In this review the significance and biological features of stem cell types and recent developments in stem cell characteristics are described.