Stem Cells

About this book

Stem cells are relatively undifferentiated cells which are the permanent lineage ancestor cells of tissues. Newly developed molecular biological techniques and probes have made possible dramatic advances in our ability to study the lineage development of stem cells. A major impetus to develop these techniques has been to identify specific stem cells for gene therapy purposes. The role that stem cells play in the development of cancer is also an important area. This book provides up-to-date reviews on a wide variety of stem cell systems by world experts. Chapters range from descriptions of the current knowledge of the biology of stem cells, to current molecular biological approaches and clinical implications. Oncologists and cell biologists will find this book of particular interest. It will also be useful to radiobiologist, biotechnologists, and gene therapists. It provides reviews of stem cell systems by world experts and covers stem cell biology in plants, invertebrates, and mammals. It presents clinical implications of stem cell differentiation.

Contents

M. Loeffler and C. Potten, Stem Cells and Cellular Pedigrees. P.W. Barlow, Stem Cells and Founder Zones in Plants. D. Francis, The Stem Cell Concept Applied to Shoot Meristems of Higher Plants. D.J. Watt and G.E. Jones, Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells-Function and Potential Role in Therapy. C. Dulac and P. Cameron-Curry, Cell Progenitors in the Neural Crest. A.M. Schor and S.L. Schor, Phenotypic Diversity and Lineage Relationships in Vascular Endothelial Cells. P. Rudland, R. Barraclough, D.G. Fernig, and J.A. Smith, Mammary Stem Cells in Normal Development and Cancer. J.W. Grisham and S.S. Thorgeirsson, Liver Stem Cells. D.G. de Rooij and F.M.F. van Dissel-Emilani, Regulation of Proliferation and Differentiation of Stem Cells in the Male Germ Line. N.A. Wright, Stem Cell Repertoire in the Intestine. S.J. Miller, R.M. Lavker, and T.-T. Sun, Keratinocyte Stem Cells of Cornea, Skin, and Hair Follicles. J. Kummermehrand K.-R. Trott, Tumor Stem Cells. B.I. Lord, The Haemopoietic Stem Cell. C.M. Heyworth, N.G. Testa, A.-M. Buckle, and A.D. Whetton, Growth Factors and the Regulation of Haemopoietic Stem Cells. J.A. Nolta and D.B. Kohn, Haematopoietic Stem Cells for Gene Therapy. Subject Index.

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