Stem cells are appearing on the news more and more. Although, in reality, do many people really know what a stem cell is, or how stem cells were discovered?
According to the National Institute of Health, stem cells are “cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells” (“Stem Cell Basics”). In the beginning, different cells were found to have multipotent and pluripotent capabilities. It wasn’t until Canadian scientists, Ernest McCulloch and James Till, found evidence that human blood contains stem cells. Today, McCulloch and Till are given credit for the idea behind stem cell research (“History of Stem Cell Research - A Timeline”). Since McCulloch and Till’s discovery, stem cells have …show more content…
There are many differences between adult and embryonic stem cells. Adult and embryonic stem cells have different limits on how they can develop into other cells. The stem cell’s ability varies with the type of stem cell. Adult stem cells are multipotent. Adult stem cells can flourish in many types of differentiated cells (Miller). Whereas embryonic stem cells are pluripotent. Embryonic stem cells can evolve into most, but not all, of the body’s many cells (Miller). Therefore, they can almost specialize when placed anywhere in the body. Another difference is that each type of stem cell plays a certain role. Adult stem cells uphold and repair the tissue that the stem cells originated from (“Stem Cell Basics”). Embryonic stem cells have the potential to form almost any type of cell that is found in a human body (Yu). In addition, stem cells can proliferate for a certain amount of time depending on the type of stem cell. Proliferation is the “continuous division of single cells into two identical daughter cells” (“Stem Cell Basics”). Most adult stem cells cannot proliferate for over one year without differentiating (“Stem Cell Basics”). Almost all embryonic stem cells can proliferate for one or more years without differentiating (“Stem Cell Basics”). Another major difference between to two types of cells is their origin. Adult stem cells come from various organs and tissues in the human …show more content…
They are put to use. There are many potential uses of stem cells in the biomedical and medicinal research fields.
In the biomedical field, stem cells are used for a varriety of reasons.One reason is the ability to determine the human bodies complex function in development. It will give scientist a better look into discovering genetics and the molecular oversight in cell division. Also, with understanding differentiation, different procedures or discoveries can help aide in curing cancer and manage birth defects (“Stem Cell Basics”).
Another use of stem cells in the biomedical field is conservation. With conservation, sperm can be retrieved from high genetic quality individuals that died before ever reaching sexual maturity. Therefore, “preserving a line [of genetics] that would otherwise be lost”
According to the National Institute of Health, stem cells are “cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells” (“Stem Cell Basics”). In the beginning, different cells were found to have multipotent and pluripotent capabilities. It wasn’t until Canadian scientists, Ernest McCulloch and James Till, found evidence that human blood contains stem cells. Today, McCulloch and Till are given credit for the idea behind stem cell research (“History of Stem Cell Research - A Timeline”). Since McCulloch and Till’s discovery, stem cells have …show more content…
There are many differences between adult and embryonic stem cells. Adult and embryonic stem cells have different limits on how they can develop into other cells. The stem cell’s ability varies with the type of stem cell. Adult stem cells are multipotent. Adult stem cells can flourish in many types of differentiated cells (Miller). Whereas embryonic stem cells are pluripotent. Embryonic stem cells can evolve into most, but not all, of the body’s many cells (Miller). Therefore, they can almost specialize when placed anywhere in the body. Another difference is that each type of stem cell plays a certain role. Adult stem cells uphold and repair the tissue that the stem cells originated from (“Stem Cell Basics”). Embryonic stem cells have the potential to form almost any type of cell that is found in a human body (Yu). In addition, stem cells can proliferate for a certain amount of time depending on the type of stem cell. Proliferation is the “continuous division of single cells into two identical daughter cells” (“Stem Cell Basics”). Most adult stem cells cannot proliferate for over one year without differentiating (“Stem Cell Basics”). Almost all embryonic stem cells can proliferate for one or more years without differentiating (“Stem Cell Basics”). Another major difference between to two types of cells is their origin. Adult stem cells come from various organs and tissues in the human …show more content…
They are put to use. There are many potential uses of stem cells in the biomedical and medicinal research fields.
In the biomedical field, stem cells are used for a varriety of reasons.One reason is the ability to determine the human bodies complex function in development. It will give scientist a better look into discovering genetics and the molecular oversight in cell division. Also, with understanding differentiation, different procedures or discoveries can help aide in curing cancer and manage birth defects (“Stem Cell Basics”).
Another use of stem cells in the biomedical field is conservation. With conservation, sperm can be retrieved from high genetic quality individuals that died before ever reaching sexual maturity. Therefore, “preserving a line [of genetics] that would otherwise be lost”