Ask a Scientist Question....but No Answer.....

My question for the Ask a Scientist website was: “How do stem cells decide what type of cell they are going to turn into and what type of cell is the initial one that we start out with in life?” As an extension to this question, “When a person is given stem cells, do the doctors decide what kind of cells they turn into in advance or does the body of the individual make that decision when the cells enter the human body system based on where there is a need?”

Unfortunately, I did not hear back from the Ask a Scientist website, so I conducted a Google Search for more information.  I did read on the website http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics1.asp that under experimental conditions, they can be induced to become specific tissue or organ cells.  It also mentioned that in other cases, the cells actually know where to go to repair and replace worn out tissue. This answers the second part of my question and tells me that doctors have a limited capability to decide what type of cell it should turn into, as well as the body making that decision.  I have a feeling that in the future doctors will develop more of a control over the decision of what type of cell it needs to turn  into.  I base this on the fact that we are advancing so far in genetic research.

As far as how stem cells decide what type of cell to turn into and when, I could not find a clear answer and am still searching.  This is also the case for the part about which type of cell we start out as.  I am assuming an embryonic stem cell, but I would love to know what they develops into eventually.

I am disappointed that I did not get the answers that I wanted from Ask a Scientist.  I would not use this particular website in my classroom because I think that my students would get frustrated and impatient waiting for answers.  I do however think that a website like this would be useful if the questions were addressed in a timely manner.  As a teacher, it would be great to have access to experts at our fingertips.  I am hoping that I will discover other websites that could be used for this purpose.  If you know of any, please send me their links.