Two independent British research groups have discovered new stem cells in mouse embryos that could help enhance understanding of human embryonic stem cells as well as move scientists closer to harnessing these cells' full healing power.

When studying disease, scientists often rely on mice, which they can genetically manipulate to try to figure out the cause of illnesses. But mice are not always the best models for human cell behavior. One glaring example: mouse embryonic stem cells, first derived roughly 25 years ago. This is because mouse stem cells use different chemical pathways than their human counterparts do to retain their pluripotency (ability to morph into any tissue type). This difference has meant that mouse stem cells are a poor research proxy for human stem cells.