Niches

What is a niche in the context of adult stem cells?

The precise location of stem cells within a tissue.

What conditions do niches provide for stem cells?

They provide the right conditions to remain undifferentiated and self-replicate, and receive stimuli that determine their behaviour.

What are stimuli in relation to stem cells?

Signals such as chemicals or other messengers that bind to cell surface receptors of the stem cell.

What does the the stimuli trigger the stem cells to stay?

Undifferentiated or commit to a more differentiated state by causing the expression of genes

Bone marrow stem cells

Niches of multipotent stem cells are found here

What is the primary function of bone marrow stem cells?

They give rise to a large number of different blood cells.

How are bone marrow stem cells used in medical therapy?

They are used after cancer treatment to regenerate blood cells.

Hair follicle stem cells

Multipotent stem cells are found here

What roles do hair follicle stem cells play?

They are involved with hair growth and skin and hair follicle generation.