Stem cell

noun (countable)

/stɛm sɛl/

An undifferentiated biological cell with two defining properties: (1) self-renewal — the capacity to divide indefinitely, producing copies of itself; and (2) potency — the ability to differentiate into specialised cell types. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent (can become any cell type); adult/somatic stem cells are multipotent (restricted to lineage); induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are adult cells reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state (Shinya Yamanaka, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012). In UPSC context, stem cell therapy applications (for blood cancers via bone marrow transplant, cardiac repair, Parkinson's disease) are examined in GS3 biotechnology; India's National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research (ICMR-DBT, revised 2017) regulate research; and ethical controversies (destruction of embryos for ESC) are examined in GS4 ethics.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The ethical architecture of India's ICMR-DBT Stem Cell Research Guidelines (2017), which permits research on human embryonic stem cells up to 14 days post-fertilisation while prohibiting reproductive cloning and commercial trading of embryos, reflects the delicate regulatory balance between scientific advancement and the preservation of human dignity.

Synonyms

progenitor cellundifferentiated cellprecursor cellmaster cellpluripotent cell (specific type)

Antonyms

differentiated cellspecialised cellsomatic cell (fully differentiated)terminally differentiated cell

🌱 Word Family

stem cell (n), embryonic stem cell (n phrase), adult stem cell (n phrase), iPSC (abbr, induced pluripotent), stem cell therapy (n phrase), pluripotent (adj), multipotent (adj), totipotent (adj)

🔡 Root

Old English stemn/stefn = trunk of a tree (the main supporting structure from which branches arise); Old English cell from Latin cella = small room, storeroom

📜 Etymology

The botanical metaphor stem (as the trunk from which branches derive) was applied to the originating, undifferentiated cell of a lineage by German haematologist Ernst Neumann in the late 19th century; the German Stammzelle ('trunk cell') was translated as 'stem cell' in English. The term became prominent following James Thomson's isolation of human embryonic stem cells in 1998.

🧠 Memory Hook

STEM CELL: think of the stem of a tree — the original trunk from which all branches (specialised cells) grow. A stem cell is the trunk; heart cells, nerve cells, blood cells are its branches. Yamanaka's Nobel 2012 = reprogramming a branch cell BACK into a trunk cell (iPSC). Trunk → branches = stem cell logic.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Mains 2017 · GS3 · 10 marks — Science & Technology

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Stem cell” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

🔬 Science & Technology 📖 Seen in: Emerging Technologies — AI, Quantum Co...

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