If you’re like me, you hear about stem cells and you ask yourself, can something like that really cure diseases? Well, after some research, I’ve found an answer.
First let’s start at the beginning. Stem cells are so important because they are the ‘universal cell’ that can be altered to perform a variety of different functions. There are two main types of cells: adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. The embryonic stem cells are the cells that most people have heard of. They are the ones that have the potential to become a variety of different cells. Adult or somatic stem cells can be reproduced specifically form the tissue that it came from. Their role in the human body is to repair damaged tissue in the area of the body that they are located.
Scientists are studying stem cells so closely because of the potential that they offer. With organ donors in high demand, the waiting lists for a donor are years long. By mastering stem cells, scientists hope to be able to ‘grow’ for example kidney cells and give them to patients that have a failing or damaged kidney. This process is referred to as ‘cell-based therapy’ and there is a great graphic of this in the following link:
Right now, the primary goal of scientists working on stem cells is to find out how undifferentiated stem cells become differentiated. When cells are undifferentiated, they are not yet given a specific function by the body. Cancer is due in part to abnormal cell division and differentiation, so mastering how to control cell differentiation will greatly help scientists. Also, much of stem cells function has to do with the activation and deactivation of certain genes in the body’s cells. To fully understand stem cells, scientists also need to realize how the genes control each cell. To be able to grow certain organ cells scientists must be able to control the manipulation of stem cells…..an arduous task that is far from getting perfected.
To be useful, stem-cells must:
- Proliferate extensively and generate sufficient quantities of tissue.
- Differentiate into the desired cell type(s).
- Survive in the recipient after transplant.
- Integrate into the surrounding tissue after transplant.
- Function appropriately for the duration of the recipient's life.
- Avoid harming the recipient in any way.
MLA:
“Stem Cell information.” National
Stem cells’ repair skills might be link to cancer.” 29 January 2008.
4 comments:
Zach, I though your post on stem cells was really interesting. Even though stem cells are very useful, they seem to be very difficult to work with. I would love to learn about how stem cells are collected(I hear that they can be taken from the umbilical cord after babies are born). And I would also like to know what they have accomplished through stem cell research. Have they grown any organs yet? I'll be looking forward to your next post!
Hey Zach,
I like your topic a lot. With all the news and research surrounding stem cells I like being able to get some actual answers instead of vague and mostly biased opinions. I liked how you started out with the basics of stem cells because I was unaware of the specific difference between those two cells (adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells). The only thing I would suggest is maybe talking about what they have already done with the research. Have there been any significant findings? Also does this have anything to do with how they have been cloning things?
Hello again,
Just wanted to let you know that your link on cell based therapy didn't show up on you blog. I'd be interested in seeing it so if you put it up again let me know :)
Jen
Wow, that's some crazy stuff there about stem cells. It seems that research has so much potential, but it's so difficult to get anywhere with is. So what's the next step in research? I remember reading something about a few successes in getting stem cells from other animals or something (maybe i'm making this up) but it sounded like there was progress being made. I've also heard theories that if you just place the stem cells within a definite area, such as placing stem cells in a damaged liver, the stem cells will become liver cells and help repair the damage. I don't know if that's true or not, maybe you can find out.
This is really interesting stuff! Thanks for picking it!
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