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Q. What are Adult Stem Cells?

From , former About.com Guide

Updated: July 21, 2006

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A. Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cell types found among differentiated cells in an organ or in tissue (Differentiate meaning to make different, cause to develop differences. Adult stem cell's are defined by their origin and their primary role is to maintain and repair the tissue in which they are found.

Scientists are discovering that adult stem cells are present in many more tissues than was at first thought and some are able to develop differences to other cell types. This offers hope that adult stem cells may be useful to treat some common serious diseases.

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