On Jun. 24, 2002, researchers at the University of Minnesota Stem Cell Institute (SCI) announced they had found the first evidence that adult bone marrow-derived cells can differentiate in vitro and in vivo into cells of all three embryonic germ layers (endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm) in similar manner as embryonic stem cells (ES cells).

SCI Director Catherine Verfaillie, M.D., reported that cells grown from adult mouse and rat bone marrow can be cultured without aging and with active telomerase, an enzyme found in embryonic stem cells that prevents aging.