summary important informatlon and detalls vii. what are the potential uses of human stem cells and the obstacles that must be overcome before these potential uses will be realized? there are many ways in which human stem cells can be used in research and the clinic. studles of huma human development. a prlmary goal of thls work is to identify how undifferentlated stem cells become the differentiated cells that form the tissues and turning genes on and off is central to thls process. some of the most serlous medical conditlons, such as cancer and birth defects, are due to abnormal cell division and differentiation. a more complete understanding of the genetic and molecular controls of these