Scientists solve long-debated puzzle of how the intestine heals itself
(PHYSorg.com Medicine & Health)

Deep within the lining of the human intestine lies the source of the organ`s ability to renew itself and recover from damage: intestinal stem cells (ISCs), lodged in pockets of tissue called crypts, generate the cells that continuously repopulate the intestinal lining. Even the stem cells themselves have a safety net: when they`re damaged, healthy replacements appear in less than a week.