The human liver is a dynamic organ throughout life, but no more so than during prenatal development. The liver performs many essential functions associated with metabolism, immunity and blood production. These diverse functions are performed by a variety of cell types that have the capacity for growth, allowing the liver to regenerate cells lost due to aging, infection or injury. Various stem cell populations are at the core of the liver's potential for regeneration, which are most active during embryonic and fetal development, when the liver undergoes rapid growth. Consequently, the prenatal...