Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be obtained from many sources, and there are differences between them. This study was purposed to compare and analyze the basic biological characteristics of umbilical cord, adipose tissue-and bone marrow-derived MSC (UC-MSCs, AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs). The MSCs were isolated from umbilical cord, adipose tissue and bone marrow were cultured; the morphology of UC-MSCs, AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs was observed by using microscopy; the immunophenotype, differentiation potential and expression of peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) mRNA were detected by using flow cytometry, differentiation test (von kossais and 0:1 red O staining) and quantitative fluorescent PCR, respectively. The results showed that the UC-MSCs, AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs displayed similar morphology under confocal microscope after being stained with rhodamine phalloidin and DAPL. The immunophenotypes of these three originated cells conform to coincide with identification criterion for MSCs, and showed similar expression level. During adipogenic induction the adipogenic potential of these MSCs was different, AD-MSCs exhibited the highest adipogenic potential, UC-MSCs displayed the lowest, while potential of BM-MSCs get between; however, the osteogenic differentiation potential of UC-MSCs, AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs was similar. The PCR detection showed that the expression level of PPAR-γ mRNA was the highest in AD-MSCs and the lowest in UC-MSCs, while expression level in BM-MSCs get between, these results were identical with the adipogenic potential, suggest that the difference of adipogenic potential in 3 kinds of MSCs was associated with basic expression level of PPAR-γ mRNA. It is concluded that UC-MSCs, AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs exhibit similar morphology, the immunophenotypes of these MSCs coincide with identification criterion for MSCs, the osteogenic potential of these MSCs is similar, while the adipogenic potential and the expression level of PPAR-γ mRNA are different. The difference-associated mechanisms need to further study.