Question: Can stem cells be grown into any type of cell of the body and how is it done?

Alena Pance answered on 10 Jun 2020:

Hi Polina, yes stem cells can be ‘differentiated’ into any cell type of the body. This can be done in various ways. One uses a series of chemicals and biological molecules that modulate gene expression. The genes or parts of the genome that are expressed in particular cell lines determine what the cell is and how it works, and the chemicals added to the medium in which the stem cells are cultured can trigger the molecular program that will transform the stem cell into the particular cell type. Another way is to genetically modify the stem cells, introducing the regulators of this particular genetic program into them in such a way that they can be induced at will.