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Nature 435, 268-270 (19 May 2005) | doi:10.1038/435268a; Published online 18 May 2005

Open Innovation Challenges

Stem-cell niches:  It's the ecology, stupid!

Kendall Powell1

  1. Kendall Powell is a freelance writer based in Broomfield, Colorado.

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Stem cells are engaged in constant crosstalk with their environment, biologists are fast realizing. So the emerging field of regenerative medicine is now wrestling with the ecological concept of the niche. Kendall Powell reports.

Linheng Li is learning to think like an ecologist. His study subjects put down roots near sources of nourishment and depend on other living things in their environment to thrive.

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