Without stem cells, wounds would never heal, your skin and blood could not continually renew themselves, fertilized eggs would not grow into babies, and babies would not grow into adults. ... They will only spring into action when you need either to produce more stem cells or make more of other, specialized types of cells.

What happens if you lose stem cells?

Unfortunately, the expansion in cell numbers is to compensate for their overall loss in functionality. Ultimately, fewer white blood cells are produced, which contributes to a deficient immune system and diminished resistance to disease and infections in the elderly.

Can we run out of stem cells?

Firstly, they can divide to produce a more specialised cell which is needed in the body, such as a muscle cell or a red blood cell. ... Stem cells can also self-renew, which means that they can replace themselves so that your supply of stem cells doesn't run out.