Stem Cells

Stem cells are cells that have not undergone differentiation. A cell which has not yet become specialised is called undifferentiated.

An embryo develops from a fertilised egg. Cells at early stages in the development of the embryo are stem cells.

Cell division in plants occurs in regions called meristems. Cells of the meristem can differentiate to produce all types of plant cells at any time during the life of the plant. The main meristems are close to the tip of the shoot, and the tip of the root.

In a growing shoot, new cells are being produced continuously near the tip. As the cells become older, further away from the tip, they become differentiated. They enlarge and develop a vacuole.