Adult Stem Cells

Undifferentiated cells that are found among differentiated cells in a tissue or organ that which can renew by its own and can differentiate to yield the major specialized cell types of the tissue or organ are known as an adult stem cell. The most important roles of adult stem cells in a living organism are to repair and maintain the tissue in which they reside.

Unlike embryonic stem cells, which are defined by their origin (the inner cell mass of the blastocyst), the origin of adult stem cells in mature tissues is unknown. Adult stem cell treatments have been successfully used for many years to treat leukemia and related bone/blood cancers through bone marrow transplants.
   

Adult stem cells are also used in veterinary medicine to treat tendon and ligament injuries in horses. Few scientists now-a-days are using the term somatic stem cell as a substitute to adult stem cell. The exercise of using adult stem cells in research and therapy is not as controversial as embryonic stem cells, since the adult stem cells do not require destructing an embryo in order to get them.

Furthermore, as in some instances adult stem cells can be obtained from the intended recipient the risk of rejection is essentially non-existent in these situations.