ABSTRACT
Stem cells (SC) are unique cells present in multicellular organisms that, unlike other cells, have the potential to differentiate into specialized cells as well as to divide via mitosis to produce more SC. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are present in an embryo which forms from a fertilized egg. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are cells found in certain types of cancer that possess characteristics of normal SCs. Through the process of self-renewal and differentiation CSCs can give rise to all the cell types present in a certain cancer sample and are therefore considered tumorigenic. SCs are used in deciphering the complex events that occur during the development of a multicellular organism where the primary goal is to reveal how an undifferentiated SC becomes a differentiated one that forms tissues and organs. SCs are also used in stem-cell related therapy among which bone marrow transplant is the most widely used one.
