STEM CELL Q & A

Wikipedia defines adult stem cells as "undifferentiated cells found throughout the body that divide to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues. Also known as somatic (from Greek Σωματικóς, of the body) stem cells, they can be found in children, as well as adults." (NOTE SOURCE PER GUIDELINES ON WIKIPEDIA)

Adult stem cells are at least 12 - 13 weeks old. They can be obtained from spontaneously aborted fetuses, still-born babies, or adult donors. Adult stem cell sources can be provided by a donor source (alllogenic) or collected from oneself (autologous).

According to the National Institutes of Health website, "the primary roles of adult stem cells in a living organism are to maintain and repair the tissue in which they are found." An adult stem cell can divide and renew itself. It can differentiate itself to become other types of cells. For these reasons, adult stem cells can play an important role in medical research and patient treatments.