Adult stem cells, also called somatic stem cells, are undifferentiated cells found among the specialised cells of tissues and organs in children and adults. They are present in small numbers in places such as the bone marrow, skin, the lining of the gut, the liver and the brain.Role in the body
Adult stem cells divide to replace cells that are worn out, damaged or die naturally. For example, stem cells in the bone marrow produce millions of new blood cells every second, and stem cells at the base of the gut lining replace its cells every few days.Potency
Most adult stem cells are multipotent, so they can only form a limited range of cell types, usually those of the tissue they are found in. Some are unipotent.Medical uses
Bone marrow transplants are the main example. Blood-forming stem cells from a donor's bone marrow replace the patient's faulty marrow, for example to treat leukaemia or sickle cell disease. Adult stem cells are also used to grow skin grafts for burns patients.Advantages
• No embryo is destroyed, and donors can give consent, so there are fewer ethical objections.
• If a patient's own stem cells are used, they will not be rejected.Disadvantages
• They are rare and can be hard to find and remove.
• They are multipotent, so they can form fewer cell types than embryonic stem cells.
• Cells from a donor must be a close tissue match to avoid rejection.Scientists can also reprogramme adult body cells by switching on a few transcription factor genes, turning them into pluripotent cells called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Adult stem cells divide to replace cells that are worn out, damaged or die naturally. For example, stem cells in the bone marrow produce millions of new blood cells every second, and stem cells at the base of the gut lining replace its cells every few days.Potency
Most adult stem cells are multipotent, so they can only form a limited range of cell types, usually those of the tissue they are found in. Some are unipotent.Medical uses
Bone marrow transplants are the main example. Blood-forming stem cells from a donor's bone marrow replace the patient's faulty marrow, for example to treat leukaemia or sickle cell disease. Adult stem cells are also used to grow skin grafts for burns patients.Advantages
• No embryo is destroyed, and donors can give consent, so there are fewer ethical objections.
• If a patient's own stem cells are used, they will not be rejected.Disadvantages
• They are rare and can be hard to find and remove.
• They are multipotent, so they can form fewer cell types than embryonic stem cells.
• Cells from a donor must be a close tissue match to avoid rejection.Scientists can also reprogramme adult body cells by switching on a few transcription factor genes, turning them into pluripotent cells called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.