The Remarkable World of Stem Cells Micheal Davis Writing 301 Mrs. Sargent January 18, 2017 The Remarkable World of Stem Cells Stem cells have been a medical miracle since the dawn of the 20th century, and there next-to-limitless potential has exceeded modern biologists’ wildest dreams. One question to ask however, is what are stem cells, and how do they function to where is makes them such a great medical discovery? In a sort of simplified version to which will give more of a better overall understanding of the topic at hand, stem cells are a sort of interior repair system for the human body and other organisms (NIH, 2016). Because of this unique ability, stem cells can replicate more than a dozen aspects of the human …show more content…
If a 24 year old male were to choose one or the other, then adult stem cells would be better because they have already grown along with the 24 year old so it makes it the perfect match. The way that stem cells work, which includes both embryonic and non-embryonic, is interesting in a lot of assets. Like all cells, stem cells need to perform cell division in order for them to probably function and do their jobs, so they need to go through things such as telekinesis mitosis and even meiosis. Embryonic stem cells start off in the blastocyst, or cell embryo that contains approximately 150 cells (MCS, 2013) MCS: Mayo Clinic Staff. After this occurs, the embryonic stems cells will then assemble healthy cells in order to block out or even discontinue old sick ones (MCS, 2013). Adult stem cells are a tad different then embryonic stem cells are as far as there development goes. In the adult stems cell’s development process, Rather than starting out as an egg or fetus, it is already found in your body in places like tissue, bone marrow etcetera, which means that you don’t have to create it like the embryonic stem, however, because of this they don’t have as much ability to differentiate (NIH, 2016). Embryonic stem cells are used, and researched to a much larger extent then adult stem cells due to the fact that adult stem cells are
Although many people argue that the usage of embryonic stem cells is immoral, they are thought to have much greater developmental potential than adult stem cells (nih.gov 2009). While stem cells are not taken from an embryo and are
In the past two decades, many technological and scientific advances have been made in order to make life easier for many people who suffer from cancer, disease and sickness. Among these advances there is something revolutionary called stem cells. Stem cells can help restore and regenerate almost all parts of the human body such as the heart, kidney, liver, and many other organs. Although stem cells offer a lot, there are many views against and for stem cells, and among these views lies the debate of whether stem cells should be legalized or not (NIH 2). Stem cells offer exciting new opportunities in the field of science such as regenerating human body parts, but many people are still debating whether or not the use of stem cells is
First of all an understanding of what a stem cell is, where it comes from, and the significance of it's medical potential is essential. Stem cells are the "master cells" that form the human body or whatever other animal it is from. Stem cells can be extracted from adult tissues, bone marrow, umbilical cord blood ( ), and embryos in the blastocyst stage. Although scientists have found ways to manipulate the stem cells from adult sources into other types of cells, they claim that they are less capable of deriving the desired tissue and are not "biologically equivalent" ( ) to stem cells extracted from embryos.
Stem cell research is the future of medical and biological research and remedies, and it is fascinating to watch the progression of this new and important science as it unfolds. These cells were discovered in mouse embryos in the 1980s, and are remarkable because of their potential to grow into a variety of different kinds of cells within a body. Common in fetuses, and more rare in adult animals of all kinds, stem cells can be manipulated in useful ways to repair many tissues, dividing limitlessly for therapeutic purposes. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or to differentiate into more specialized tissue, such as nerve, pancreas, bone marrow, or unique blood components. Initially
Adult stem cells are not necessarily derived from adult human but merely not from embryos. These stem cells can found in bone marrow, connective tissues, hair follicles, umbilical cords and other areas of the body. It is said that these cells have been used to treat an estimated 11,000 patients in the United States in the past two years alone, and over 70 diseases, including Parkinson’s and diabetes. (Pence, 2009) There have been 0 recorded successful treatments achieved by the use of embryonic stem cells. As well, stem cells from umbilical cord blood have been used to treat 65 diseases such as leukemia, and lymphoma. (Sweat,
One of the most controversial topics these days is Stem Cell Research. There seems to be a split opinion among societies about the research and whether it is socially and morally acceptable. As a society, we need to open our minds to the possibility of broadening our scientific horizons with stem cell research, and take the time to learn and understand whatever we can about it.
There are a few different kinds of stem cells. These different type of stem cells depends on where it came from. As of now, there are only a couple sources for stem cell’s. The first kind of stem cells are adult stem cell. These adult stem cells can be obtained from specialized tissue in both children and adults. Since these cells are older, they are further along in the differentiation process, meaning they can only change into a few types of cells instead of the 200 that comes with embryonic stem cells. This is also called being pluripotent. (Miller
Stem cells are cells within the body that have the ability to grow and reproduce repeatedly into any type of mature cell. They are unspecialized cells that divide through mitosis to produce more stem cells that replace cells in the system in which they are found. Stems cells make it possible for the body to renew and repair its damaged tissues. They are also vital in the development of human life. Stem cells are high potential cells, and this makes them a top focus in the biomedical research world. (Stem Cell Basics, 2009) This paper will discuss the background, function, and other aspects of stem cells.
Embryonic Stem Cells are the future of curing life threatening diseases. Research on Embryonic Stem Cells could be the future of medicine. If more funding and availability of embryonic stem cells was provided for research advancements could be made faster and more lives could be saved. Stem cells are cells that do not have a designated purpose when they are created. Stem cells are able to reproduce and divide for long periods of time. Stem cells can repair and regenerate organs and tissues in ways no other cells can. Embryonic stem cells are stem cells that come from embryos and have no designated purpose. Adult stem cells are stem cells that are produced in organs and tissues with a primary purpose of repair the organ or tissue it was
Stem cells have a plethora of side effects that over powers the benefits. The ability to differentiate is known as plasticity, and it is thought to only be at its greatest in embryonic stem cells. In order for the embryonic cells to be of use they must be fertilized, after which, the stem cell is removed, destroying the embryo. Stem cells can be used in adults; however it is believed through the consensus of the medical community that the plasticity of embryonic stem cells is not even closely matched by those of adult stem cells. The general idea is that “adult stem cells have a limited capacity to differentiate (Solter 8).” Adult stem cells are already stuck in their ways, which makes it useless, in a way. They can only reproduce the same cell type that they originate from. Thus, despite the prospecting medical leaps that this technology can provide, the process of how to obtain the embryonic stem cells overwhelms the benefits by far.
Another milestone in science has been reached: the discovery of stem cells in the 19th Century. Stem cells have the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). According to the National Institutes of Health, embryonic stem cells derive from four to five day old embryos, also known as blastocyst, that have been fertilized in vitro and donated to research purposes with informed consent from the donors. Adult embryonic stem cells are found in differentiated cells in a tissue or organ. The main purpose of these cells is to repair the damaged tissue in which they are found. Since this discovery, there has been controversy over whether embryonic and adult stem cell research should be federally funded, and the ethics involved.
controversial topic of embryonic stem cell research. Some will say that using stem cells to
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, which means they are capable of giving rise to several different cell types, that is why they are so much more special than adult stem cells. Adult stem cells are multipotent which means they are more limited than
There is significant difference between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells only generate the cell types of the tissue in which they reside. Scientists have found stem cells in many more tissues in the recent years than they ever thought possible. Stem cells from bone marrow have been used for transplants for over 40 years, but researchers have now found that stem cells also exist in the brain and heart. Adult stem cells are rare in mature tissues, so isolating these cells from adult tissues can be challenging. They are also currently believed to be less likely to initiate rejection after transplantation than embryonic stem cells. This is because the patient’s own stem cells and tissues are being reintroduced into the patient, therefore they are less like to be rejected by the immune system (Top 10). On the other hand, embryonic stem cells are mostly derived from embryos that have been fertilized in vitro and are then donated to research with the consent of the donor. These stem cells can become all cell
Embryonic stem cells which can be taken from the embryo. According to the National Institutes of Health (2016), “Embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos. Most embryonic stem cells are derived from embryos that develop from eggs that have been fertilized in vitro and then donated for research purposes with informed consent of the donors.” These cells can develop and form any tissues in a living organism. The adult stem cells are cells of the body. The National Institutes of Health 92016) states “The adult stem cell can renew itself and can differentiate to yield some or all of the major specialized cell types of the tissue or organ. The primary roles of these cells are to maintain and repair the tissue in which they are found.” The adult stem cells are found in many tissues and organ systems in children and adults. Lastly, the induced pluripotent stem cells are genetically modified and reprogramed cells to embryonic stem cells. They are divided and grown in a laboratory