Stem Cell Supporters

The secrets of the stem cell have long been elusive. But now, with the help of zebrafish (an embryonic fish pictured), we are unravelling their mysteries. Zebrafish larvae are incredibly useful as not only do they make stem cells in the same way as humans, but they’re also free-swimming and transparent, making them easy to study in the lab. Scientists observed that in zebrafish, an important type of stem cell known as a haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) needed a helpful hand from endotome cells – a kind of embryo cell that act as cushions to help HSCs form. As HSCs have the ability to differentiate into many of the body’s different cell types, this finding is a step forward for stem cell research; it could lead to making HSCs in the lab that could be used to treat conditions such as degenerative disorders and spinal cord injuries.

Written by Faiza Peeran

Faiza Peeran

Writer

A Biology graduate from Nottingham, Faiza is now completing a Science Communication MSc at Imperial College. She’s passionate about bringing science to the public, and is particularly interested in health and biomedicine.

• Image by Annie Cavanagh and David McCarthy from the Wellcome Image Awards 2014
• Originally published under a Creative Commons Licence (BY 4.0)
• Research published in Nature, August 2014