title: Transdifferentiation of stem cells: a critical view.
abstract: Recently a large amount of new data on the plasticity of stem cells of various lineages have emerged, providing new perspectives especially for the therapeutic application of adult stem cells. Previously unknown possibilities of cell differentiation beyond the known commitment of a given stem cell have been described using keywords such as "blood to liver," or "bone to brain." Controversies on the likelihood, as well as the biological significance, of these conversions almost immediately arose within this young field of stem cell biology. This chapter will concentrate on these controversies and focus on selected examples demonstrating the technical aspects of stem cell transdifferentiation and the evaluation of the tools used to analyze these events.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs LEBAO, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany, gruh.ina@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gruh
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Martin