Читать книгу The SAGE Encyclopedia of Stem Cell Research - Группа авторов - Страница 214

Adult stem cells, medically referred to as somatic stem cells (SSC), are located in various organs throughout the body. Somatic stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the unique ability to divide into two identical daughter cells or to transform into specialized cells. This choice between self-renewal or differentiation is determined by the environment. These rare somatic stem cells are essential to renew and to repair tissues, but the self-renewal properties of somatic stem cells can increase their chances of becoming cancer cells.