Stem Cells :: essays research papers

Photo good manners University of Wisconsin Board of RegentsMicroscopic 10x view of a colony of immature root words cells(The etymon cell colonies argon the rounded, dense masses of cells.)Meriam-Webster defines kibosh cells as an generalized cell that gives rise to differentiated cells. This means the can turn into any(prenominal) cells the body is in need of .Their almost limitless potential has make stem cells a significant focus of medical research. Imagine having the might to return memory to an Alzheimers patient, replace skin that was lost during a terrible accident or enable a wheelchair-bound person to passing again. But before scientists can use stem cells for medical purposes, they must(prenominal) first learn how to harness their power. They cant treat disease until they learn how to ensure stem cells to get them to develop into specific threads or harmoniums. A stem cell is essentially the building block of the human body. The stem cells privileged an fertil ized egg will eventually give rise to every cell, organ and tissue in the fetuss body. Unlike a regular cell, which can notwithstanding replicate to create more of its own kind of cell, a stem cell is pluripotent. When it divides, it can make any one of the 220 different cells in the human body. Stem cells also give the capability to self-renew -- they can spew themselves many times over. There are two types of stem cells embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from an embryo -- the mass of cells in the earliest stage of human development that, if insert in a womans womb, will eventually grow into a fetus. When the embryo is between three and five days old, it contains stem cells, which are busily working to create the various organs and tissues that will make up the fetus. Adults also have stem cells in the heart, brain, bone marrow, lungs and other organs. They are our built-in repair kits, regenerating cells damaged by disease, injury and univer sal wear and tear. Adult stem cells were once believed to be more trammel than stem cells, only giving rise to the same type of tissue from which they originated. But new research suggests that adult stem cells may have the potential to generate other types of cells, as well. For example, liver cells may be coaxed to produce insulin, which is normally made by the pancreas.