[thedoc (OP)]

Rebecca  asked the Naked Scientists:
   I was listening to one of your old podcasts which included a question about stem cells. It made me wonder how stem cells actually work. For starters, does one stemcell become two somatic cells, or does it stay unchanged itsself whilst budding off a new cell? Can a stem cell make another stem cell? Are there different types of stemcell? Do they have special DNA or is it the same as the rest of the body, distinguished only by all the "machinery" around it that enable it to differentiate into any other cell of that organism? Can a stemcell of one organism differentiate into a cell for another organism if they share the relevant genes?

Love the show, please keep them going!

regards
Becca

What do you think?

[ranganr]

Stem cells modify themselves to another types of body cells. Yes, Stem cells multiply to produce another stem cells.
ya, There are different types of stem cells. They have same DNA as other body cells. Stem cell of one organism cannot differentiate into another.

for more on types of stem cells see
newbielink:http://www.rajaha.com/types-stem-cells/ [nonactive]