A stem cell is a “blank” cell that can be replicated and used for many disease treatments. They serve as a built-in repair system because they naturally exist in human bodies. They can become a muscle cell or skin cell to treat certain diseases such as Cancer, Spinal Cord Injury, and Parkinson’s disease. There are two main types of Stem cells, Adult and Embryonic. Adult stem cells are cells that can replicate and transport into location that needs to be repaired and it also helps us restore our sick or damaged cells back to normal. The second type of stem cells is called embryonic cells which helps women get pregnant through a process called in-vitro fertilization. During this process, instead of sperm meeting egg inside women body, the sperm
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For example, the process of replacing unhealthy blood-forming cells or blood stem cells with healthy ones is known as bone marrow transplant, which is performed to treat cancers like leukemia or spinal cord injury. In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys beta cells that produce insulin and glucose. Stem cells can be transformed into healthy beta cells and replace the damage ones for diabetes patients. Stem cells for any type of treatment can be collected from the bone marrow, peripheral blood or cord blood. Sometimes a patient’s own stem cells are used to treat their own disease. This procedure is known as an autologous stem cell transplant. Autologous transplant is used when the dosage of chemotherapy or radiation needed to kill the disease is so high that it will destroy the patient’s existing bone marrow. Without the healthy stem cells in bone marrow there is no blood production. However, the stem cells for this procedure are collected prior to chemotherapy or radiation. Also, some patient’s needs a donor to donate their stem cell because the patient is not capable of donating their own stem cells for future treatment use. . However, they need a donor who is genetically related to the patient, not related to the patient or identical twin (nbmtlink.org,
For example, the process of replacing unhealthy blood-forming cells or blood stem cells with healthy ones is known as bone marrow transplant, which is performed to treat cancers like leukemia or spinal cord injury. In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system destroys beta cells that produce insulin and glucose. Stem cells can be transformed into healthy beta cells and replace the damage ones for diabetes patients. Stem cells for any type of treatment can be collected from the bone marrow, peripheral blood or cord blood. Sometimes a patient’s own stem cells are used to treat their own disease. This procedure is known as an autologous stem cell transplant. Autologous transplant is used when the dosage of chemotherapy or radiation needed to kill the disease is so high that it will destroy the patient’s existing bone marrow. Without the healthy stem cells in bone marrow there is no blood production. However, the stem cells for this procedure are collected prior to chemotherapy or radiation. Also, some patient’s needs a donor to donate their stem cell because the patient is not capable of donating their own stem cells for future treatment use. . However, they need a donor who is genetically related to the patient, not related to the patient or identical twin (nbmtlink.org,