Undifferentiated
Undifferentiated refers to cells or tissues that have not yet attained a mature or specialized function. This term is often used in the context of stem cells, cancer, and developmental biology.
Stem Cells[edit | edit source]
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the potential to differentiate into various types of cells in the body. They are characterized by their ability to self-renew and to give rise to differentiated cells. There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.
Embryonic Stem Cells[edit | edit source]
Embryonic stem cells are derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage preimplantation embryo. They are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into all cell types of the body.
Adult Stem Cells[edit | edit source]
Adult stem cells, also known as somatic stem cells, are found in various tissues in the body and are multipotent, meaning they can differentiate into a limited number of cell types related to the tissue in which they reside.
Cancer[edit | edit source]
In cancer, undifferentiated refers to cells that have lost the specialized characteristics of the cell type from which they originated. These cells often have a high proliferative capacity and are associated with a more aggressive disease course.
Developmental Biology[edit | edit source]
In developmental biology, undifferentiated refers to cells in an embryo or young organism that have not yet begun to differentiate into specialized cell types.
See Also[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
