幹細胞(stem cells)係指一群相對原始且尚未特化的細胞群，幹細胞研究可由最原始的受精卵（全能性幹細胞）推展至胚胎（胚胎幹細胞）與成體組織（組織幹細胞）。由於這些細胞具有自我更新（self-renew）與分化（differentiation）能力，幹細胞因此在損傷組織之細胞替代療法（cell replacement therapeutics）以及組織工程（tissue engineering）等具有廣泛前景。本課程乃著重幹細胞的學理基礎與實際運用，涵容幹細胞的生長與分化調節、幹細胞微環境（niche）、幹細胞可塑性（plasticity）、幹細胞學研究方法以及幹細胞治療等；課程且配合指定文獻的閱讀與互動討論，使學生對於現階幹細胞研究前景，有更為全面且深入的了解。

Stem cells refer to a group of relatively primitive and unspecified cell populations. The research on fertilized cells can be extended from the most primitive fertilized eggs (popular fertilized cells) to embryos (embryo fertilized cells) and adult tissues (organized fertilized cells). Because these cells have self-renew and differentiation capabilities, the storing cells have broad prospects in cell replacement therapy and tissue engineering. This course focuses on the theoretical basis and actual use of stimulus cells, including the development and differentiation of stimulus cells, stimulus cell microenvironment (niche), stimulus cell plasticity, stimulus cell research methods, and stimulus cell therapy. The course is combined with reading and interactive discussions of designated texts, so that students have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the prospects for stimulus cell research.

1. Robert Lanza, John Gearhart, Brigid Hogan, Douglas Melton, Roger Pedersen, E. Donnall Thomas, James Thomson and Sir Ian Wilmut. 2009. Essentials of Stem Cell Biology (Second Edition). Elsevier.
2. Kamran Alimoghaddam. 2013. Stem Cell Biology in Normal Life and Diseases. Intech.
3. Robert Lanza John Gearhart Brigid Hogan Douglas Melton Roger Pedersen E. Donnall Thomas James Thomson Ian Wilmut. 2009. Essentials of Stem Cell Biology. (Second Edition). Elsevier.

1. Robert Lanza, John Gearhart, Brigid Hogan, Douglas Melton, Roger Pedersen, E. Donnall Thomas, James Thomson and Sir Ian Wilmut. 2009. Essentials of Stem Cell Biology (Second Edition). Elsevier.
2. Kamran Alimoghaddam. 2013. Stem Cell Biology in Normal Life and Diseases. Intech.
3. Robert Lanza John Gearhart Brigid Hogan Douglas Melton Roger Pedersen E. Donnall Thomas James Thomson Ian Wilmut. 2009. Essentials of Stem Cell Biology. (Second Edition). Elsevier.