What makes stem cells special?

Stem cells have a few unique properties that set them apart from all other cells in the body and make them special. 

• Stem cells can self-renew and replicate multiple times. This perpetual self-renewal ability is invaluable for recreating functional tissues for treating a wide range of diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, arthritis, spinal cord injury or diabetes. No other cells have this ability.
• Stem cells are unspecialized and unable to perform specific functions in the body. However, they are the only types of cells that have the potential to differentiate and become specialized adult cells such as brain cells, blood cells or muscle cells.