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Definition 2024


stem_cell

stem cell

See also: stemcell and stem-cell

English

Noun

stem cell (plural stem cells)

  1. (medicine, cytology) A primal undifferentiated cell from which a variety of other cells can develop through the process of cellular differentiation.
    • 2002, Haifan Lin, "The stem-cell niche theory: Lessons from flies," Nature Reviews: Genetics, vol 3, p. 931,
      Stem cells are characterized by their ability to self-renew and to produce numerous differentiated cell types, and are directly responsible for generating and maintaining tissues and organs.

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