They can live essentially forever -- without forming tumors. Their development is directed by subtle chemical cues that vary according to location and conditions in the body. They can divide unequally. Instead of forming two identical daughter cells -- the usual result of cell division -- one daughter cell is more specialized, while the second is a stem cell. Think of your '55 Chevy coupe dividing into a 12-cylinder Ferrari Testarossa -- and another '55 Chevy.
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