Stem cells can do many things, but come with limitations as well. Let's take a brief look at some of the most common types of stem cells:

1.Embryonic stem cells

The embryonic stem cells are generated with the help of blastocyst’s inner cell mass. As long as nothing goes south, the cells from the inner cell mass work for generating specialized cells. The latter are fundamental for the tissues, organs, and the whole body.

Scientists take out the inner cell mass and grow them, but they maintain the abilities of embryonic stem cells.

Apart from the placenta and the umbilical cord, embryonic stem cells are fundamental for generating every kind of cell in your body. It’s because they’re pluripotent. They have fantastic value since they ensure renewable resources when studying diseases and normal development. They're also crucial for testing medications and various therapies.

2.Tissue-specific stem cells

They're also known as an adult or somatic cells and present more specifications than embryonic stem cells. They can lead to multiple cell types for the particular organ or tissue in which they develop.

For example, blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow support the creation of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. They don’t count for the creation of liver or lung cells, just the way stem cells from other organs or tissues cannot generate red or white blood cells.

It seems that tissue-specific stem cells cannot renew on their own as easy as the embryonic stem cells.

3.Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells 

These cells are created in the lab by turning the tissue-specific cells into cells that act like embryonic stem cells. IPS cells are fundamental tools helping scientists understand healthy development and sicknesses. They are also used for testing therapies and new drugs. 

4.Mesenchymal stem cells

The cells isolated from stroma are known to be mesenchymal stem cells. The connective tissue we notice around organs and tissues is named the stroma.

The first MSCs were identified in the bone marrow and can create fat cells, cartilage, and bone cells. They can be grown from various tissues, such as cord blood and fat.

For now, scientists know that MSCs are different, and are studies on their characteristics are currently undergoing.

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