a stem cell is a “generic” cell that can make exact copies of itself indefinitely. It is a precursor cell that has the ability to make specialized cells for various tissues in the body (such as heart muscle, brain tissue and liver tissue). Stem cell research is expected to impact advances in curing diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, spinal cord injury, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and cancer.  Medical researchers believe stem cells have the potential to change the face of human disease by being used to repair specific tissues or to grow organs.