Plasticity of stomatic stem cells:: Dream or reality

Background: Common and defining properties of stem cells are their capacity for self-renewal and their potential for differentiation into multiple mature cell types. In contrast to embryonic stem cells, which are able to give rise to an cell types of the body, somatic stem cells have been regarded as being-restricted in their,differentiation potential. Current Research: Recent studies support the idea that somatic stem cells from adult tissues can also contribute to heterologous tissues, i.e., transdifferentiate to unrelated cell types. These claims contradict the central dogma of the unidirectionality of differentiation processes. This review discusses the developmental potential of somatic stem cells in the light of recent findings.