stem cell

noun

: an unspecialized cell that gives rise to differentiated cells

hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow

Examples of stem cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The elephant stem cells also hold the key to the mammoth’s rebirth. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024

Elephants rarely get cancer, which is unexpected for a large animal with so many cells, and the elephant stem cells could shed light on why this is the case, the study authors write. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024

Now that the stem cells have been identified, scientists will be able to use cloning techniques to manipulate them in the hopes of birthing elephants with some of the mammoths’ key traits. —Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024

Some scientists say the creation of the specialized elephant stem cells is a noteworthy scientific achievement. —Rob Stein, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024

Embryonic stem cells have the ability to give rise to all kinds of different cell types that make up organisms—a quality that scientists call pluripotency. —Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024

That’s because it’s formulated with sea moss, aloe stem cells, and vitamin E to hydrate, soothe, and protect the lips with absolutely no sticky finish. —Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2024

Colossal has derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from Asian elephants, the closest living relatives of mammoths, NPR reports. —Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024

These include studying the effects of microgravity and UV radiation on plants, using stem cells to create models to study degenerative disease and testing whether wearing pressure cuffs on the legs could prevent fluid shifts and reduce health problems in astronauts. —Russell Lewis, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

stem cell

noun

: a simple cell that can become a cell (as a blood cell or skin cell) with a special function

Medical Definition

stem cell

noun

ˈstem- 

: an unspecialized cell capable of perpetuating itself through cell division and having the potential to give rise to differentiated cells with specialized functions

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage of the embryo.

—Carrie J. Merkle, in Essentials of Pathophysiology

… picture the bone marrow as a blood cell factory that takes a single type of precursor cell, or stem cell, and modifies it in various ways to produce all the cells that circulate in the blood.

—Gina Kolata, Discover

Recent observations are providing increasing evidence for the concept that adult stem cells are part of a natural system for tissue repair.

—Darwin J. Prockop, in Essentials of Stem Cell Biology