Glossary
Words and phrases commonly used in stem cell research
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- ancestor cellsearch for term
- General term for cell without self-renewal ability that contributes to tissue formation. In some cases it generates tissue stem cells. Synonyms: precursor cell
- asymmetric divisionsearch for term
- Cell division resulting in two daughter cells with different properties. Observed in some but not all stem cells and can occur in other types of progenitor cell.
- blastocystsearch for term
- An early stage embryo of about 100 cells that has not yet implanted into the womb. The blastocysti is a sphere made up of an outer layer of cells, a fluid-filled cavity and cluster of cells inside called the inner cell mass.
- cancer cell of originsearch for term
- Precancerous cell that gives rise to a cancer stem celli. May be a mutated stem cell, or a progenitor cell that has acquired self-renewal capacity through mutation.
- cancer stem cell search for term
- Self-renewing cell responsible for sustaining a cancer and for producing differentiated progeny that form the bulk of the cancer. Cancer stem cells identified in leukaemias and certain solid tumours are critical therapeutic targets.
- cancer-initiating cell search for term
- Cell that can produce a new cancer upon transplantation. A key property of a cancer stem celli.
- cell culturesearch for term
- The growth of cells in a laboratory dish for experimental research. The cells are grown in a solution, or medium, that contains nutrients and growth factors. Different factors can be added to the culture medium to initiate changes in cell behaviour.
- cell replacement therapy search for term
- Reconstitution of tissue by functional incorporation of transplanted stem-cell progeny. Distinct from 'bystander' trophic, anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory effects of introduced cells.
- clonal analysissearch for term
- Investigation of properties of single cells. Essential for formal demonstration of self-renewal and potencyi.
- commitment search for term
- Engagement in a programme leading to differentiationi. For a stem celli, this means it no longer retains the ability to self-renewi.
- daughter cellsearch for term
- One of the two or more cells formed in the division of a single cell.
- differentiationsearch for term
- The process by which cells become specialized to perform particular tasks.
- embryonic stem cellsearch for term
- Pluripotenti stem-cell lines derived from early embryos before formation of the tissue germ layers. Synonyms: embryonic stem cells
- germ cellssearch for term
- The reproductive cells in multicellular organisms.
- immortal strand search for term
- The hypothesis of selective retention of parental DNA strands during asymmetric self-renewal. Potential mechanism to protect stem cells from the mutations associated with replication.
- induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cellssearch for term
- A type of pluripotenti stem celli derived from a non-pluripotent cell, typically an adult somatic celli, by manipulating expression of certain genes. Synonyms: induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, induced pluripotency, iPS cells, cellules IPS
- lineagesearch for term
- Term used to describe cells with a common ancestry, that is developing from the same type of identifiable immature cell.
- long-term reconstitution search for term
- Lifelong renewal of tissue by transplanted cells. The definitive test for haematopoietic, epidermal and spermatogonial stem cells.
- multipotentsearch for term
- Able form multiple mature cell types that constitute an entire tissue or tissues. Example: haematopoietic (blood) stem cells.
- nichesearch for term
- Cellular micro-environment providing the support and stimuli necessary to sustain self-renewal
- oligopotentsearch for term
- Able to form two or more mature cell types within a tissue. For example, neural stem cells that can create a subset of neurons in the brain are oligopotenti.
- plasticity search for term
- Unproven notion that tissue stem cells may be able to generate the cell types of another tissue under certain conditions.
- pluripotentsearch for term
- Able to form all the body's cell lineages, including germ cellsi, and some or even all extraembryonic cell types. Example: embryonic stem cellsi.
- potencysearch for term
- The range of commitment options available to a cell.
- progenitor cell search for term
- Generic term for any dividing cell with the capacity to give rise to another cell type. Includes possible stem cells in which self-renewal has not yet been demonstrated.
- regenerative medicine search for term
- Reconstruction of diseased or injured tissue by activation of resident cells or by cell transplantation.
- reprogramming search for term
- Increase in potencyi. Occurs naturally in regenerative organisms (dedifferentiation). Induced experimentally in mammalian cells by nuclear transfer, cell fusion, genetic manipulation or in vitro culture.
- self-renewalsearch for term
- The ability of a stem celli to divide and produce copies of itself for an indefinite period of time. This is the defining property of stem cells. Synonyms: self-renew
- somatic cellsearch for term
- Any of the cells of a plant or animal other than germ cellsi Synonyms: somatic cells
- stem cellsearch for term
- A cell that can continuously produce unaltered daughters and also has the ability to produce daughter cells that have different, more restricted properties.
- stemnesssearch for term
- Unproven notion that different stem cells are regulated by common genes and mechanisms.
- tissue stem cell search for term
- Stem celli derived from, or resident in, a fetal or adult tissue, with potencyi limited to cells of that tissue. These cells sustain turnover and repair throughout life in some tissues. Synonyms: adult stem cell
- totipotentsearch for term
- Sufficient to form entire organism. The zygotei is totipotenti; not demonstrated for any vertebrate stem celli.
- unipotentsearch for term
- Forms a single mature cell type. For example, spermatogonial stem cells are unipotenti, as they can only form sperm cells.
- zygotesearch for term
- A single cell resulting from the fusion of male and female gametes (sperm and egg) at fertilization.