Cell Fate: Developing Cells Can Alter Their Destiny.

Neural crest cells, a type of stem cell, have been found to retain their flexibility even after they have become visibly differentiated, according to new research from the University of Bath. This finding has significant implications for regenerative medicine, as it suggests that neural crest stem cells have immense potential as treatments to replace and repair damaged body tissue in many parts of the body. The study also reconciles a long-standing debate among biologists over the nature of neural crest cell differentiation, showing that these cells are choosing their fate in a much more dynamic, mobile way than previously thought.