Thursday, July 26, 2007

Protein Distinguishes Fetal and Adult Stem Cells

Source: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Date: July 26, 2007

Summary:

In a discovery that fills a critical gap in the understanding of stem cells, researchers have discovered a protein that fetal, but not adult, blood-forming stem cells need to replenish themselves. Finding regulatory pathways specific to fetal blood-forming cells could help scientists understand childhood leukemias and generate blood-forming cells for bone marrow transplants, said the researchers.