stem cell

noun

: an unspecialized cell that gives rise to differentiated cells

hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow

Examples of stem cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most people who donate stem cells snap back almost immediately, and this felt like a very minimal price to pay. —Pia Velasco, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024

The process uses stem cells taken from a living pig, putting them through a fermentation-like process that dramatically amplifies their growth and differentiation into the muscle and fat that comprise real meat—in just four days. —Chris Norris, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024

Every product is formulated with their exclusive Commence Complex, a blend of alfalfa extract to support hair growth, quinoa peptides to add volume, acai stem cells for antioxidants that provide anti-aging perks and a Lactobacillus ferment, bio-fermentation technology that calms the scalp. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Embryo models—that is, embryos created using stem cells—could provide a real alternative for studying some of the hardest problems in human development, unlocking crucial details about, say, what causes miscarriages and developmental disorders. —Kristen V. Brown, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

stem cell

noun

: a simple cell that can become a cell (as a blood cell or skin cell) with a special function

Medical Definition

stem cell

noun

ˈstem- 

: an unspecialized cell capable of perpetuating itself through cell division and having the potential to give rise to differentiated cells with specialized functions

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage of the embryo.

—Carrie J. Merkle, in Essentials of Pathophysiology

… picture the bone marrow as a blood cell factory that takes a single type of precursor cell, or stem cell, and modifies it in various ways to produce all the cells that circulate in the blood.

—Gina Kolata, Discover

Recent observations are providing increasing evidence for the concept that adult stem cells are part of a natural system for tissue repair.

—Darwin J. Prockop, in Essentials of Stem Cell Biology