I'm responding to Adi's question: What is the difference between stem cells and somatic cells?
Stem cells are undiffrentiated cells that can undergo unlimited division to form other cells. This means stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves, unlike other body cells.
They are also unspecialised which can potentially become any type of cells.
They differentiate to form specialised functioning body cells such as skin cells, red blood cells, nerve cells, and skeletal muscle cells under certain condition.
They remain in the body until they get a signal to diffrentiate or gradually change into the desired cell type. This occurs when specific genes in the stem cell are turned on.This process helps cells to specialise so they can carry out different function.
There are two types of stem cells:
1. the embryonic stem cells.
2.An adult stem cells.
Please visit this site for details of Stem cells:
http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics4.asp
Somatic cells (diploid) are any cells forming the body of an organism. It is a non-sex cell . In humans, somatic cells contain 46 individual chromosomes, .
(I would suggest it to be mentioned if the question asking about where MITOSIS takes place in human and animals = SOMATIC CELLS (Not stem cells)
Scientists also use the term somatic stem cell instead of adult stem cell, where somatic refers to cells of the body (not the germ cells, sperm or eggs).
Undifferentiated stem cells—is a somatic cell: internal organs, skin, bones, blood, and connective tissue are all made up of somatic cells.
The word "somatic" is derived from the Greek word sōma, meaning "body".
Hope it helps !
Teacher, thanks for the feedback. Yet I still have some problems here. According to my reference book (success), mitosis occurs in somatic cells which will help in repairing tissues and for growth. Seems like the function of somatic cells and stem cells are almost alike. Sigh I really have problems in distinguishing both cells. So thus that means stem cells made up somatic cells?
ReplyDeleteUndifferentiated stem cells is a somatic cell: internal organs, skin, bones, blood, and connective tissue are all made up of somatic cells.
ReplyDeleteSo: stem cells is a somatic cells or body cells WHICH are capable of dividing and renewing themselves,and can potentially
become any type of cells. ( unlike other body cells.)
Somatic cells are ALL body cells, BUT Stem cells are certain body cells only , which include: skin cells, red blood cells, nerve cells, and skeletal muscle cells .