Question: what are embryonic stem cells?

Sharon Sneddon answered on 26 Mar 2010:

Human embryonic stem cells are special cells that can turn into any of the 300 different cell types in the body. They basically have not made their mind up as to what they are going to be. They are found in human embryos that are between 5 and 7 days old.
Stem cells are called unspecialised cells. They divide to give further stem cells but they can also produce more specialised cells such as muscle, cartilage, pancreas, nerves or blood. Stem cells give rise to all the tissues of the body during development and allow for growth and repair in the adult.
Because they can do this, they are really versatile and could be potentially used to treat and possibly cure a variety of diseases and injuries including Parkinson’s disease, stroke and diabetes. Once we have made the stem cells, we grow them in special ingredients which contain things called growth factors and this persuades the cells to grow as one particular cell, for example something called Activin A makes them turn into insulin producing cells that could be used to treat people with diabetes.
I hope that makes sense! If not, let me know and I can explain some more!!!