These embryos are called blastocysts and they are pluripotent which means the embryos are able to divide into more stem cells or any other type of cell. This adaptability allows the cells to repair damaged tissues and organs. In adult stem cells, recent evidence has been discovered that the cells may be able to create new stem cells that have no relation to the original stem cell’s purpose. However, scientists first believed that adult or somatic stem cells could only produce similar type of cells. For example, bone marrow stem cells could only divide into more bone marrow cells.
It is significant to know possible risks of using stem cells, as well as their benefits. Basically, stem cells are unspecialized cells in the human organism, which have a significant ability to renew themselves and become specialized with new functions. They have distinguishing properties to develop into different types of cells, such as brain cells, nerve or liver cells etc. The stem cells repair dead cells; moreover they can divide without any limitations. Generally, there are four sources of stem cells: stem cells from embryo; stem cells from fetus; stem cells from adult human; stem cells from umbilical cord.
They also have the ability to become a specialized cell, which can then carry out functions of that specific cell. This is very important because once a stem cell has been arranged to become a specialized cell, it loses its ability to transform into a different specialized cell. Stem cells can be present in some adult bodies not just newly formed fertilized eggs. Some of these ste... ... middle of paper ... ... injury, and other neurological brain disease target neural stem cell transplants. There are many ways we can use stem cells and many more we will soon find out with more scientific advancements.
During division, each cell has the ability of remaining as a stem cell or transforming into a cell with a more specific, specialized function. These cells, for example, could be cells such as a muscle cell, red blood cell, or even a brain cell. What makes these cells different from others is that they are capable of renewing themselves through cell division. As well, under certain conditions, they can develop into tissue or organ specific cells with unique functions. Stem cells, in organs such as the gut or in bone marrow, are capable of regularly dividing and repairing or replacing dam... ... middle of paper ... ...n able to find treatments to treat chronic kidney disease and heart failure, ischemic cardiomyopathey, and damaged gut of inflammatory bowel disease.
Knowing the basics of stem cells is important to understanding how they might positively influence those with different types of medical conditions. Stem cells are defined as unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division. (stemcells.nih.gov) Stem Cells develop in many different cell types during the early stages of life and development. As long as a human or animal is alive the many tissues in the body assist on any internal repairs in the tissue. Stem cells can either stay stem cells or become more in detail and become a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
Two: Stem Cells can become almost any cell type. Three: Stem cells have the ability to proliferate almost indefinitely. Stem cells are now the centerpieces of regenerative medicine. This involves growing new cells, tissues, and organs to repair or replace those damaged by injury or disease (Knowles, Lori P.). All organisms started out as undifferentiated cells, which would then become one of the approximated 220 specialized cells.
They are most commonly used type are bone marrow, the spinal cord, and human induced pluripotent cells. Through research I learned what stem cells are and how they work, how a stem cell procedure works, and the ever growing controversy of the use of stem cells. Stem cells, by definition, are cells that “potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth” (Frequently Asked Questions). The most commonly used stem cells are embryonic and non-embryonic. The embryonic cells are found in from embryos that have been in vitro fertilized.
Finally, stem cells could provide a resource for testing new medical treatments. Lot of new medications could be tested on specialized cells from stem cell lines which can reduce the animal testing. For example, cancer cell lines are used to screen potential anti tumor drugs to see the effects on cells. Stem cells are mother cells that have potential to develop into a new different cell in the body. It can self-renew or multiply while developing into other types of cells, for example they can become cells of the blood, heart, bones, skin, muscles and brain.
What are Embryonic Stem Cells, you may ask? Embryonic Stem Cells are cells that are extracted from human embryos. These particular stem cells can transform into more than two hundred varying tissue types. (Birtley, Cate) The embryonic stem cell is a possible life saver. It has the potential to cure diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and eventually the memory loss disease, Alzheimer’s.
The stem cells supply each organ with cells needed to replace damaged or dead cells. Bone marrow stem cells divide to produce more stem cells, additional cells called “precursor cells”, and all of the different cells that make up the blood and immune system. Precursor cells have the ability to form many different types of cells, but they cannot produce more stem cells. Scientists can isolate bone marrow stem cells to use as donor cells in transplants. Adult stem cells, however, are rare and more difficult to detect and isolate.