A stem cell is a stem cell, all the word stem cell means is, it is a cell that has not been 'assigned a particular spot" in the body yet... It is undifferentiated.. Meaning you can pretty much manipulate it to do what ever you want, at least that is the theory anyway.
For instance, if you were trying to use it to replace a certain default cell, you use DNA from the cell that you want it to be like and inject it into the stem cell.
SOrry it has been a few years since Micro class, but that is pretty much the gist of it.
I personally, not that it matters am not for embyonic stem cell research, I personally believe life starts at conception, but who cares what I believe...
There are many ways to do stem cell research, actually some of the long bones in the adult body have stem cells in them.
Cloning is something that is done with stem cells, but not in and of itself the same thing.....
That is my weak rememberance of Stem Cells, and I am kicking myself because I am not clear on all the details like I used to be, I am going to look back in my micro book now because I am curious..
Jennifer