Editing Tissue engineering (section)

=== Stem cells ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}
''[[Stem cell]]s'' are undifferentiated cells with the ability to divide in culture and give rise to different forms of specialized cells. Stem cells are divided into "adult" and "embryonic" stem cells according to their source. While there is still a large ethical debate related to the use of embryonic stem cells, it is thought that another alternative source – [[induced pluripotent stem cells]]{{snd}}may be useful for the repair of diseased or damaged tissues, or may be used to grow new organs.

''[[totipotency|Totipotent]]'' cells are stem cells which can divide into further stem cells or differentiate into any cell type in the body, including extra-embryonic tissue.

''[[pluripotency|Pluripotent]]'' cells are stem cells which can differentiate into any cell type in the body except extra-embryonic tissue. [[induced pluripotent stem cells]] (iPSCs) are subclass of pluripotent stem cells resembling embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that have been derived from adult differentiated cells. iPSCs are created by altering the expression of transcriptional factors in adult cells until they become like embryonic stem cells.

''[[multipotency|Multipotent]]'' stem cells can be differentiated into any cell within the same class, such as [[blood]] or [[bone]]. A common example of multipotent cells is [[Mesenchymal stem cell]]s (MSCs).