Unlike normal cells,stem cells are pluripotent—they can become any cell type, which makes them powerful potential treatments for diseases such as diabetes, and leukemia and age-related blindness. However,maintaining this versatility until the time is apt is a major challenge. This week in ACS Central Science, researchers reveal that mimicking a natural process called diapause can halt stem cells, and effectively putting them to sleep for up to two weeks.
Source: phys.org