What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are biological cells that are unique in comparison to other cells in that they have the ability to divide and transform into more specific cells of the body and have the ability to “self-renew” and make more stem cells. There are two types of stem cells in the human body: the adult stem cell and the embryonic stem cell. The adult stem cells are found in numerous tissues acting as a repair system, in some organs replacing the worn or damaged cells in place of new ones. (Examples include the skin, bone marrow, and the intestinal act.)
In thers, stem cells divide only in certain situations. (Examples include in the pancreas and the heart.) However with these stem cells, varying with their origins, they can only divide to make that specific type of cell. Therefore, if these stem cells came from muscle tissue, the stem cells are only able to split into muscle cells. However with embryonic stem cells, this is not the case. Embryonic stem cells are known as pluripotent cells in that they have the ability to transfer into any kind of specialized cell that is required whilst maintaining the capability to divide seemingly without limit. These stem cells are most prevalent during days three to five during the developmental period; the embryo at this time, known as a blastocyte, contains these cells that will become the more specific cells that make up the human body. It is as the human gets older, that the embryonic stem cells begin dwindling in numbers and instead are replaced with adult stem cells that have learned to reproduce specific cells. However, there is a phenomenon that occurs in adult cells known as
transdifferentiation, where an adult stem cell can change in cell types seen in other tissues or organs varying from the cells’ expected lineage. (An example being blood stem cells changing into muscle stem cells.) It is with this phenomenon and other mysterious properties that scientists are researching stem cells to use for a better cause. For more information about stem cells, visit the NIH website.
In thers, stem cells divide only in certain situations. (Examples include in the pancreas and the heart.) However with these stem cells, varying with their origins, they can only divide to make that specific type of cell. Therefore, if these stem cells came from muscle tissue, the stem cells are only able to split into muscle cells. However with embryonic stem cells, this is not the case. Embryonic stem cells are known as pluripotent cells in that they have the ability to transfer into any kind of specialized cell that is required whilst maintaining the capability to divide seemingly without limit. These stem cells are most prevalent during days three to five during the developmental period; the embryo at this time, known as a blastocyte, contains these cells that will become the more specific cells that make up the human body. It is as the human gets older, that the embryonic stem cells begin dwindling in numbers and instead are replaced with adult stem cells that have learned to reproduce specific cells. However, there is a phenomenon that occurs in adult cells known as
transdifferentiation, where an adult stem cell can change in cell types seen in other tissues or organs varying from the cells’ expected lineage. (An example being blood stem cells changing into muscle stem cells.) It is with this phenomenon and other mysterious properties that scientists are researching stem cells to use for a better cause. For more information about stem cells, visit the NIH website.