title: Clonal analysis of stem cells in differentiation and disease.
abstract: Tracking the fate of individual cells and their progeny by clonal analysis has redefined the concept of stem cells and their role in health and disease. The maintenance of cell turnover in adult tissues is achieved by the collective action of populations of stem cells with an equal likelihood of self-renewal or differentiation. Following injury stem cells exhibit striking plasticity, switching from homeostatic behavior in order to repair damaged tissues. The effects of disease states on stem cells are also being uncovered, with new insights into how somatic mutations trigger clonal expansion in early neoplasia.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK.
authors.forename: Bartomeu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Colom
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK; MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison-MRC Research Centre, Box 197, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK. Electronic address: pj3@sanger.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Philip H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D000066670:Cell Plasticity; D002999:Clone Cells; D004194:Disease; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*