All the organs of our body originate from small founder populations of cells which multiply into complex structures. Adult stem cells are used to maintain organs throughout adult life and to repair or regenerate them after damage. Focusing on the lung, an organ that is frequently damaged by disease and environmental agents, this talk will examine mechanisms controlling the differentiation and morphogenesis of embryonic organs, the behaviour of adult stem cells, and how these are influenced by factors including genes, ageing, inflammation and infection.
