CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICS:
All stem cells had to main three characteristics.


1. they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods:

Stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells—which do not normally replicate themselves—stem cells may replicate many times, or proliferate.

2. they are unspecialized: One of the fundamental properties of a stem cell is that it does not have any tissue-specific structures that allow it to perform specialized functions.

3. they can give rise to specialized cell types: When unspecialized stem cells give rise to specialized cells, the process is called differentiation . While differentiating, the cell usually goes through several stages, becoming more specialized at each step.