Write properties of stem cells. How is the population of stem cells maintained?
Properties of stem cells: The classical definition of a stem cell requires that it possess two properties: Self-renewal: The ability to go through numerous cycles of cell division while maintaining the undifferentiated state, Potency: The capacity to differentiate into specialized cell types. In the strictest sense, this requires stem cells to be either totipotent or pluripotent- to be able to give rise to any mature cell type, although multipotent or unipotent progenitor cells are sometimes referred to as stem cells. Apart from this, it is said that stem cell function is regulated in a feedback mechanism. 1. Self-renewal: Two mechanisms exist to ensure that a stem cell population is maintained: Obligatory asymmetric replication: A stem cell divides into one mother cell that is identical to the original stem cell, and another daughter cell that is differentiated. Stochastic differentiation: When one stem cell develops into two differentiated daughter cells, another stem cell undergoes mitosis and produces two stem cells identical to the original. 2. Totipotency They have the potential to develop into any cell found in the human body.
