Somatic Stem Cells

Pluripotent vs Multipotent Stem Cells

Pluripotent stem cells have the ability to become all the cell types of an organism. Multipotent stem cells are limited to differentiating into one or more cell lines. Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells are pluripotent. Adult stem cells are multipotent and can be found in specific stem cell niches in different organs of an organism. It is important to note that adult stem cells are not just found in adults. Newborns will have adult stem cells throughout their body as well.

References

Stem Cell TV Consumer News Now I Know

Somatic Stem Cells

Somatic (adult) stem cells are stem cells derived from different areas of the human body known as stem cell niches. This type of stem cell is less controversial than embryonic stem cells because they are not derived from a fertilized egg.

References

General Electric