Stem cells have traditionally been characterized as either embryonic (pluripotent) or organ-specific. Recent work suggests that the latter can "transdifferentiate" into other cell types, carrying significant implications for possible clinical use of these cells. Here the authors critically examine the existing data, and suggest standards for the evaluation of these and future studies.
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Acknowledgements
D.J.A. is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute; F.H.G. is supported by the National Institutes of Health and I.J.W. is supported by the National Institutes of Health.
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Anderson, D., Gage, F. & Weissman, I. Can stem cells cross lineage boundaries?. Nat Med 7, 393–395 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/86439
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/86439
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