Stem Cell Research
A Little Bit About Stem Cell Research
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Stem cell research is quite a new and controversial area of research which has far reaching implications for everyone. Stem cells are able to become any kind of cell that is found in the body and may be used to treat a wide range of conditions. Stem cells may be embryonic or adult.
Embryonic stem cells are considered more useful than adult stem cells as they are able to differentiate into any cell in the body. Adult stem cells do not appear to have this level of plasticity. However recent research into adult stem cells has discovered that they can be used for a wide variety of conditions.
Stem cells do not just have the potential to grow into different cell types but can also repair cells. As a stem cell divides it can either become another stem cell, or a different cell such as brain cell or blood cell. Stem cells are very special because they can renew themselves through cell division even if they have been inactive for a long period time.
Stem cells can also become tissue or organ cells which have special functions. These stem cells in the bone marrow divide very regularly and can replace worn out tissues or tissues which have become damaged. It is slightly different in organs such as the heart where they can only divide under very special conditions.
Scientists have been using embryonic stem cells since 1981, when they originally used mouse embryos. This research eventually led them to be able to harvest human embryonic stem cells, which came from embryos that were no longer needed in in vitro fertilization procedures.
Stem cells are very exciting because they offer the chance for treating widespread diseases such as diabetes and also heart disease. A lot more new research is needed to discover exactly how they work and their specialist properties. They are already in use in laboratories as they are used to try to identify causes of birth defects and also to screen new drugs.
Embryonic stem cells are considered more useful than adult stem cells as they are able to differentiate into any cell in the body. Adult stem cells do not appear to have this level of plasticity. However recent research into adult stem cells has discovered that they can be used for a wide variety of conditions.
Stem cells do not just have the potential to grow into different cell types but can also repair cells. As a stem cell divides it can either become another stem cell, or a different cell such as brain cell or blood cell. Stem cells are very special because they can renew themselves through cell division even if they have been inactive for a long period time.
Stem cells can also become tissue or organ cells which have special functions. These stem cells in the bone marrow divide very regularly and can replace worn out tissues or tissues which have become damaged. It is slightly different in organs such as the heart where they can only divide under very special conditions.
Scientists have been using embryonic stem cells since 1981, when they originally used mouse embryos. This research eventually led them to be able to harvest human embryonic stem cells, which came from embryos that were no longer needed in in vitro fertilization procedures.
Stem cells are very exciting because they offer the chance for treating widespread diseases such as diabetes and also heart disease. A lot more new research is needed to discover exactly how they work and their specialist properties. They are already in use in laboratories as they are used to try to identify causes of birth defects and also to screen new drugs.