Stem cells

STEM CELLS

A stem cell is a single cell which has the capability to regenerate into any desired organ.

Stem cells are unspecialized. They don’t have a specialized physiological property.

They have the ability to divide and create self copies of themselves again and again in an organism life time. The main goal of stem cell therapy is to mend damaged tissues that cannot heal themselves.

There are mainly two types of stem cells classification

1) Embryonic stem cell - Embryonic stem cells are the cells that are found in the embryos at a very early stage of development. These embryonic stem cells can be transformed into any desired organ for future use.

2) Adult or Tissue stem cell- Adult stem cells are found in adults hidden deep within organs surrounded by millions of cells. These adult stem cells can be used only for the specific organ which has the tissue containing them.

That is the blood stem cells can give rise to only red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

The two key applications of stem cells are:

1) Medical application- Stem cell studies may allow researches to follow how the various diseases and genetic abnormalities initially mark themselves structurally or biologically into cells and tissues. As from single stem cell several organs can be replicated it helps in testing various medicines by the pharmaceuticals and to analyze the characteristics of the medicines in a variety of organs from different human beings so that it provides greater benefits with fewer side effects and also reduce the use of animals in testing purposes.

2) Therapeutic application-as the stem cells can repair and restore any damaged tissues. In this fast moving life almost many people suffer from one degenerative condition or another like Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, stroke, type1 diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, kidney disease, blood diseases, blindness, muscular dystrophy, liver disease, loss of teeth and baldness.

it is been believed by many scientists the stem cells will allow the entire organ heart, liver etc to be created and transplanted. Stem cells are also used to treat burnt victims. Instead of locating donor tissues stem cells can be used to produce healthy tissues.

Adult stem cells are already helping in bone marrow transplants and leukemia.

Advantages and disadvantages of embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells

• The embryonic stem cells can be made into any desired organ. Where as an adult stem cell can be made only into the particular organ which contains it. It is also very difficult to obtain in quantity and to maintain in culture.
• The embryonic stem cells can be maintained in any culture.
• The adult stem cell may not be available for all types of cells.
• The adult stem cell has less risk of developing teratomas but whereas the embryonic stem cell is prone to develop teratomas.
• It is very difficult to control the differentiation of embryonic stem cells.

For those suffering from serious diseases stem cells will offer hope and effective treatment or perhaps reversal of the disease. Time will tell us the full success of stem cells therapies to win over many incurable medical conditions.