How Stem Cells Remember Their Past

Somatic stem cells are required for tissue development, homeostasis, and repair. Recent data suggested that previous biographical experiences of individual stem cells influence their behavior in the context of tissue formation and govern stem cell responses to external stimuli. Here we provide a concise review how a cell's biography, for example, previous rounds of cell divisions or the age-dependent accumulation of cellular damage, is remembered in stem cells and how previous experiences affect the segregation of cellular components, thus guiding cellular behavior in vertebrate stem cells. Further, we suggest future directions of research that may help to unravel the molecular underpinnings of how past experiences guide future cellular behavior.