Stem Cells

• Stem cells are unique types of cells with the ability to become any cell type in the body.
• They are unspecialized or “blank” cells, which are not specific to any organ or tissue.
• They have two important characteristics that differentiate them from other cells. First, they can divide and replicate many times, a process known as proliferation. Second, they can differentiate, or specialise, into various types of body cells, such as muscle cells, nerve cells, or blood cells.
• There are two main types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.
• Embryonic stem cells come from human embryos that are three to five days old. At this stage, an embryo is called a blastocyst and has about 150 cells. These are pluripotent stem cells, meaning they can divide into more stem cells or can become any type of cell in the body. This versatility allows embryonic stem cells to be used to regenerate or repair diseased tissue and organs.
• Adult stem cells, contrary to the name, are present in infants, children, and adults. These are found in small numbers in most adult tissues, such as bone marrow or fat. Compared with embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells have a more limited ability to give rise to various cells of the body. Until recently, it was believed adult stem cells could create only similar types of cells. For instance, researchers thought that stem cells residing in the bone marrow could give rise only to blood cells. However, new evidence suggests that adult stem cells may be able to create unrelated types of cells. For instance, bone marrow stem cells may be able to create bone or heart muscle cells.
• Stem cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition. Bone marrow transplant is a form of stem cell therapy that has been used for many years without controversy.
• Stem cells have enormous potential in health and medical research but to fully harness this potential, scientists are studying how stem cells transform, or differentiate, into the diverse range of specialised cells that make humans what they are today.
• Because diseases such as cancer or conditions such as birth defects are thought to occur because of problems in the differentiation process, an understanding of the development that happens in normal cells will help scientists treat the developmental errors that can occur.
• There are ethical issues surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells, as it necessitates the destruction of an embryo. Conversely, adult stem cells can be harvested from the individual without harm. Some potential applications of stem cell research include treating diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.