Stem cells in biology, tissue engineering and medicine: the leading edge keeps moving

摘要

Rising interest in the characterisation and function of stem cells over the last 5-10 years has embraced pluripotential embryonic stem cells, multipotential adult stem cells and lineage determination. The success of defining and clinically utilizing hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) derived from the bone marrow or mobilized into the peripheral blood has provided a template for study of the wide variety of other adult, fetal and embryonic stem cell types. In composing this issue of Current Opinion in Biotechnology, we invited a range of researchers who are making new and interesting contributions to stem cell science and bioengineering.