Hiding deep inside our bone marrow — the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones — are special cells. They wait patiently for the hour of need, at which point these blood forming stem cells can proliferate and differentiate into billions of mature blood cells to help the body cope with infection, for example, or they can turn into extra red blood cells for low oxygen levels at high altitudes. Even in emergencies, however, the body sticks to a long-term plan: It maintains a reserve of undifferentiated stem cells, meaning cells that have not yet expressed signs of their future specific type, for eventual needs and crises.
View the original article here: Study Finds Precious Stem Cells Are Assigned ‘Bodyguard’ Cells …
