A stem cell is a cell with the unique ability to develop into specialized cell types in the body. In the future, they may be used to replace cells and tissues that have been damaged or lost due to disease.

Our body is made up of many different types of cells. Most cells are specialized in performing particular functions, such as red blood cells? They carry oxygen around our bodies in the blood, but they are unable to divide.

Stem cells provide new cells for the body as it grows, and replace specialized cells that are damaged or lost. They have two unique properties that enable them to do this:

They can divide over and over again to produce new cells.

As they divide, they can change into other types of cells that make up the body.