Embryonic stem (ES) cells are considered the ultimate stem cell because of their dual ability to proliferate and to differentiate into all the cells and tissues of the body. But they are ethically contentious because five-day-old embryos have to be destroyed to derive them. Adult stem cells show promise as an ethically preferable alternative, but scientists have not been able to show that they are as versatile as ES cells. The two papers featured in …showed first 75 words of 348 total…

…showed last 75 words of 348 total…isolating powerful, pluripotent stem cells with clear therapeutic potential. However many fundamental questions remain about how ES cells and MAPCs function in a biological context, and how they can best be harnessed for medical benefit. It will be exciting to watch the answers unfold. This web focus encompasses a one-stop shop for a selection of excellent articles and features on stem cells handpicked from the pages of Nature, including the specially commissioned Stem Cell Insight.