The Importance of the Stem Cell
CJ Kemper
Stem cell research on adult and embryonic stem cells has the potential to develop cures for diseases that kill millions of people all over the world. First off, stem cells are the unspecialized cells from which differentiated cells develop(Miller et Levine). In the early 1900’s, attempts were made to fertilize mammalian eggs outside of the human body. It was then discovered that some cells were able to generate blood cells. In 1968, the very first bone marrow transplant was done successfully on two siblings with severe combined immunodeficiency(Murnaghan). In the next thirty years, scientists uncovered more facts about adult and embryonic stem cells. In 1999 and 2000, scientists “discovered that manipulating …show more content…
What are the factors in living organisms that normally regulate stem cell proliferation and self renewal? Finding the answers to these questions may help scientists understand proliferation and the abnormalities in cell division that can lead to cancer(Unique Properties of Stem Cells). One unique property of stem cells is proliferation. Proliferation is when cells replicate many times. Unlike muscle, blood, or nerve cells, which do not normally replicate themselves, stem cells can divide and renew themselves(Unique Properties of Stem Cells). A second unique property t describe stem cells is differentiation, which is the process in which unspecialized stem cells can give rise to specialized cells. Scientists have just begun to understand the signals inside and out that trigger the differentiation(Unique Properties of Stem Cells). A number of experiments over the last couple years have made scientists think that stem cells from one tissue may be able to give rise cell types of an entirely different tissues Examples of such plasticity, which is the third unique property, include blood cells becoming neurons (nerve cells), liver cells that can be made to produce insulin, and hematopoietic stem cells that can …show more content…
Stem cells can be collected from bone marrow, circulating blood or umbilical cord blood(Harvesting Stem Cells). There are two methods that are used to collect enough stem cells for a transplant. One collection can be done by putting the donor under an anaesthetic, and then using needles to remove bone marrow directly from the large bones. The second type of harvesting is the Peripheral Blood Stem Cell harvest. This is where an IV is placed into each of the donor’s arms. Blood is drawn out of the arm and sent to the apheresis machine where the stem cells are separated. The remaining blood is sent back into the IV in the other arm. The donor will recover much faster(Stem Cell
CJ Kemper
Stem cell research on adult and embryonic stem cells has the potential to develop cures for diseases that kill millions of people all over the world. First off, stem cells are the unspecialized cells from which differentiated cells develop(Miller et Levine). In the early 1900’s, attempts were made to fertilize mammalian eggs outside of the human body. It was then discovered that some cells were able to generate blood cells. In 1968, the very first bone marrow transplant was done successfully on two siblings with severe combined immunodeficiency(Murnaghan). In the next thirty years, scientists uncovered more facts about adult and embryonic stem cells. In 1999 and 2000, scientists “discovered that manipulating …show more content…
What are the factors in living organisms that normally regulate stem cell proliferation and self renewal? Finding the answers to these questions may help scientists understand proliferation and the abnormalities in cell division that can lead to cancer(Unique Properties of Stem Cells). One unique property of stem cells is proliferation. Proliferation is when cells replicate many times. Unlike muscle, blood, or nerve cells, which do not normally replicate themselves, stem cells can divide and renew themselves(Unique Properties of Stem Cells). A second unique property t describe stem cells is differentiation, which is the process in which unspecialized stem cells can give rise to specialized cells. Scientists have just begun to understand the signals inside and out that trigger the differentiation(Unique Properties of Stem Cells). A number of experiments over the last couple years have made scientists think that stem cells from one tissue may be able to give rise cell types of an entirely different tissues Examples of such plasticity, which is the third unique property, include blood cells becoming neurons (nerve cells), liver cells that can be made to produce insulin, and hematopoietic stem cells that can …show more content…
Stem cells can be collected from bone marrow, circulating blood or umbilical cord blood(Harvesting Stem Cells). There are two methods that are used to collect enough stem cells for a transplant. One collection can be done by putting the donor under an anaesthetic, and then using needles to remove bone marrow directly from the large bones. The second type of harvesting is the Peripheral Blood Stem Cell harvest. This is where an IV is placed into each of the donor’s arms. Blood is drawn out of the arm and sent to the apheresis machine where the stem cells are separated. The remaining blood is sent back into the IV in the other arm. The donor will recover much faster(Stem Cell