Every day seems to bring new breakthroughs in medical technology that are sometimes difficult to understand. Much of it can seem exciting, although many are concerned about the religious and moral implications that they bring with them. The value of stem cell research facilities, and what exactly they do, can be more readily understood once it's broken down.
First you have to know what stem cells are. Simply put these are base cells that generate cells with special functions. It is possible, in a laboratory to divide these base cells into what is called daughter cells. The daughter cells either create more base cells, called self-renewal, or they will be cells, called differentiation, that have more special functions, like brain cells, blood, bone, and heart muscle cells. The stems are the only cells in the body capable of generating new types of cells naturally.
When researchers watch these cells grow, they start to learn the ways in which diseases develop. Regenerative medicine is the art of regenerating and replacing human cells to the place where normal function is restored. Stems have the ability to create special cells that regenerate or repair damaged or diseased tissue located anywhere in the human body.
There are a whole host of diseases, currently without a cure, that could potentially be eradicated. They include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, strokes, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, cancer, and type 1 diabetes just to name a few. Stems can potentially be grown into new tissue that can be used in transplants. Researchers are working on all kinds of new applications that could be used in regenerative and transplant medicine.
Researchers are testing new drugs with the use of stems. Rather than exposing humans to testing, scientists are using these cells in order to learn how safe it is for humans to use them and how effectively they work. One test showing great promise is cardiac toxicity.
Researchers are studying how well stems, that are programmed to turn into cells specific to tissue, might be for new drug testing. To get the utmost accuracy, the cells must be programmed to mimic the types of cells the new drugs are targeting. For example, tests made on blood cells might show what kind of effect new drugs will have on them.
Scientists can draw stems from a variety of sources, one of which is particularly problematic for some groups. Embryonic cells are taken from embryos that are only a few days old. These cells are unique because they can divide into more stem cells, or any other kind of cell that is in the human body. Embryonic cells have been the focus of those raising ethical objections to this type of research.
Embryonic cells can be mimicked with the use of adult stems. Genetic reprogramming has been used in order to alter genes in adult cells. This new technique may prevent resistance from the new cells when it comes to immunity. Whether it adversely affects the human body is still under investigation.
First you have to know what stem cells are. Simply put these are base cells that generate cells with special functions. It is possible, in a laboratory to divide these base cells into what is called daughter cells. The daughter cells either create more base cells, called self-renewal, or they will be cells, called differentiation, that have more special functions, like brain cells, blood, bone, and heart muscle cells. The stems are the only cells in the body capable of generating new types of cells naturally.
When researchers watch these cells grow, they start to learn the ways in which diseases develop. Regenerative medicine is the art of regenerating and replacing human cells to the place where normal function is restored. Stems have the ability to create special cells that regenerate or repair damaged or diseased tissue located anywhere in the human body.
There are a whole host of diseases, currently without a cure, that could potentially be eradicated. They include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, strokes, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, cancer, and type 1 diabetes just to name a few. Stems can potentially be grown into new tissue that can be used in transplants. Researchers are working on all kinds of new applications that could be used in regenerative and transplant medicine.
Researchers are testing new drugs with the use of stems. Rather than exposing humans to testing, scientists are using these cells in order to learn how safe it is for humans to use them and how effectively they work. One test showing great promise is cardiac toxicity.
Researchers are studying how well stems, that are programmed to turn into cells specific to tissue, might be for new drug testing. To get the utmost accuracy, the cells must be programmed to mimic the types of cells the new drugs are targeting. For example, tests made on blood cells might show what kind of effect new drugs will have on them.
Scientists can draw stems from a variety of sources, one of which is particularly problematic for some groups. Embryonic cells are taken from embryos that are only a few days old. These cells are unique because they can divide into more stem cells, or any other kind of cell that is in the human body. Embryonic cells have been the focus of those raising ethical objections to this type of research.
Embryonic cells can be mimicked with the use of adult stems. Genetic reprogramming has been used in order to alter genes in adult cells. This new technique may prevent resistance from the new cells when it comes to immunity. Whether it adversely affects the human body is still under investigation.
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