Niches

Adult stem cells are found in niches

Niche: the precise location of stem cells within a tissue

Gives them the right conditions to remain undifferentiated and self-replicate, and receive stimuli to determine their behaviour

Stimuli: signals such as chemicals or other messengers which bind to cell surface receptors of the stem cell

This triggers the stem cell 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 in the bone marrow

These cells give rise to a large number of different blood cells

They are used in medical therapy after cancer treatment

Hair follicle stem cells:

Multipotent stem cells niches are also found in hair follicles being involved with hair growth and skin and hair follicle generation