One of the main justifications in the popular press for the continuation of stem cell research is to find a cure for such endocrine-related diseases as diabetes. In this collection of 13 papers, contributors explain their research and how it applies to endocrinology. They begin with basic stem cell biology, describing the derivation, properties and therapeutic implications of embryonic stem cells, and those procured from germ lines and umbilical cords. They describe the differentiation potential of adult stem cells and growth conditions for primate vs. murine embryonic stem cells. They then describe their translational research, including islet precursor cells in adults, transcription factor-related differentiation along an endocrine lineage, generation of islet-like structures, therapeutic potentials of liver repopulation, manipulation of mesenchymal stem cells, transplantation of spermatogenic stem cells, hematopietic stem cells in treatments of autoimmune endocrine disease, and the results of preclinical trials of stem cell therapies. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)