What are motor neurons?
You’re in a bakery full of delicious treats. After a lot of soul-searching, you set your heart on a pecan danish. You reach for your wallet. But wait - how did you go from deciding how wanted your...
Calling a Blossom, an Orange: Neural Stem Cells and Progenitor Cells
What are neural progenitor cells? Where are they found in the brain and spinal cord? Neural stem cells (NSCs) are a type of multipotent stem cells that originate in the Central Nervous System (CNS,...
The Liver: why yours is so important and so awesome
Take your right hand and place your palm over your belly button. Move about three-four inches to the right and then upwards until you feel your ribs under your index finger. Right hand, say "hello"...
Our Gleeful Glia: An Introduction to Macroglia and Microglia
Neuroglia, glial cells or, to their family and friends, simply glia are the connective tissue cells of nervous system. The term "glia" comes from the Greek for glue. However, the old axiom that...
Thanksgiving, Toasters and Cortical Neurons
This time of year is full of celebrations. From the very end of October to the end of January, there are dozens of holidays from Diwali to Halloween to the Festival of the Twin Holy Days to...
Keratinocytes: Their Purpose, Their Subtypes and Their Lifecycle
What are keratinocytes? Take a look at your hands, your face and your toes. Most of what you're seeing are your keratinocytes. They make up over 90% of the cells of the epidermis, the outermost...
Mysteries of the Mighty Melanocytes
Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, the pigment present in our skin, eyes, and hair. iPS-derived melanocytes are used in models of skin disease, drug toxicity assays, skin bioprinting and in...
What Is the Difference Between Pluripotent, Multipotent, Totipotent Stem Cells and All the Rest?
Not a week goes by that I don't see an article in my newsfeed about some new possible treatment to cure something or other. When you start looking into the "New Treatment Can Cure Most Forms of...
Melanocytes, Melanin, and More
Melanocytes are melanin-producing cells found mainly in the lowest part of the top layer of your skin or to put it in science-speak: the stratum basale of your epidermis (see our article on the...