Human Embryonic Stem cells and Induced Pluripotent Cells

Human Embryonic Stem cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells are two modern methods of research; and treatment being aimed at the treatment of cancer, and many degenerative and genetic diseases. Stem cells are cells with the ability to develop into a cell of a different type, some types of stem cells are able to differentiate or change into a cell which is specific and functional to a specific tissue or organ system. This unique ability is what many scientists are trying to focus towards regeneration of different tissues, or the creation of new tissue to help cure, or treat diseases like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and alzheimer's.

Human Embryonic Stem Cells originate from a preimplantation phase embryonic cell. These cells have the unique ability to differentiate into any type of cell. These cells are able to divide quickly, like they would during the process of fetal development. These qualities have made it possible for researchers to understand when and how certain cells differentiate, or change, to develop into different types of cells. Because of this, the researchers have been able to pinpoint the locations of certain genes and their gene switches, and are able to replicate this process in order to develop new tissue. These human embryonic stem cells are generated by a process of transferring cells from an embryo into a nutrient filled culture disc. On this disc the cells grow and divide. Once cells span the whole disc some of the cells are replated into fresh nutrient discs so that they will continue to divide and multiply. This process is completed and repeated several times so that there will be several millions of cells for the researcher to work with. The cells which are produced much undergo certain testing in o...

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...also been cases of induced pluripotent cell therapy causing malignant tumor formation. Much more research and testing is essential before this can become an effective method of treatment and disease research. Different viruses are being tested for the transportation of the factors, and different types of cells are being tested for their likelihood of being converted back into stem cells.

Because of the controversy that using human embryonic stem cells has caused over the definition of life itself and how it is being used or abused by research scientists, it is easy to see how people can get swept away in looking toward something like induced pluripotent cells to replace embryonic research completely within the stem cell realm.

Works Cited

"Frequently Asked Questions." What Are Embryonic Stem Cells? [Stem Cell Information]. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2014.