Why the hoo-ha about stem cells?
In theory, stem cells can grow into replacements for almost any part of your
body. If derived from cells taken from you, there’d be no problems with
rejection.
So what are they, exactly?
They’re cells that can develop into many different types of tissue, such as
bone, muscle or brain. There are three basic types. “Totipotent” stem
cells—the cells formed when a fertilised egg first divides—can turn
into any type of tissue and form a “total” organism.
About five days after fertilisation, a hollow ball of about 100 cells called
a blastocyst…
