stem cell is defined as:
"A relatively undifferentiated cell that retains the ability to divide and
proliferate throughout life to provide progenitor cells that can differentiate
into specialized cells."
This fits with the broad usage of this term. But a more specialised usage,
which some people insist is the correct one, defines a stem cell as a precursor
cell that is capable of dividing (budding off progeny) while retaining its
identity.
In order to allow for both usages, I propose addition of a new term 'stem cell
(sensu strictu)' which has the more specialised definition. I think that this
is useful as there may well be things that stem cells in this strict sense have
in common. This term is also amenable to formal definition and therefore use
in auto-classification, where the broadly defined term is probably not.
Original issue reported on code.google.com by dosu...@gmail.com on 26 Sep 2013 at 2:56
Original issue reported on code.google.com by
dosu...@gmail.com
on 26 Sep 2013 at 2:56