The first volume of Stem Cells deals with the fundamental principles that govern embryonic and somatic stem cell biology. Historically, the identification and characterization of such pathways and general rules of stemness occurred during embryonic development and Volume I reflects this with topics spanning cell cycle regulation, epigenetics, and asymmetric cell division in a number of organ systems from planarian to human. Three specific sections discuss i) Basic Stem Cell Biology, ii) Tissue Formation During Development, and iii) Model Organisms with particular emphasis on those more relevant for biomedical research and, thus, leading to the topics addressed in Volume II.

Stem Cells reviews the current knowledge on stem cell science covering all its major topics, from basic cell biology to legislation. Volume II concentrates on mechanisms of stem cell regeneration in the adult organism with the aim to understand how lost tissue can be replaced during adulthood and aging. The second focus of this volume is on stem cell identification and manipulation, including applications in basic research, medicine, and industry. Volume II closes with an outlook on generalized approaches to solve legislative and ethical challenges.