Stem Cell Differentiation/Self-Organization

Stem cells are a cell type present in the body and known for their undifferentiated form. When the stem cells are in state of pluripotency, it means that the cells are capable of differentiating into all other cell types. To better understand this, the cells are said to be differentiated if they express proteins and phenotypes that are characteristic of a specific cell type. For example, skin cells always express a protein called keratin, and bones always express a protein called bone morphogenic proteins. This state of differentiation not only pertains to the proteins expressed, but also to the phenotype of the cell, such as the shape and size of the nucleus. Pluripotent stem cells are found in the inner cell mass at the blastocyst ...