Stem Cell

This article provided by the National Institute of Health is an introduction to stem cell. It contains information on research and advancements made in the field of stem cell, what stem cells are its composition and characteristics, different types of stem cell and the potential use of stem cell in treating wide array diseases.In the last couple of years stem cell research is still causing division amongst government, civic and religious groups on the implementation of stem cell. Although the advantages are obvious this is without opposition. In the field of regenerative or reparative medicine, it has captivated scientist on the promising future stem cell holds in how we treat diseases in the future. The article starts with the characteristic of stem cells and what make stem cell unique from other cell and the progress scientist have made in stem cell research. What makes stem cell unique is that they are capable of dividing and renewing itself in a given period, they are unspecialized and lastly, they can develop into specialized cell. Unlike other cell types (e.g. nerve cells) stem cells are capable of proliferating themselves many times over. One of the wondrous ability of stem cell is they are unspecialized, meaning it does not have tissue specific structure or the ability to do functions like a heart muscle cell which pump blood. But this unspecialized characteristic can give rise or develop in to specialized cell like heart muscle cell. Embryonic and Adult stem cells are the defined and discuss in detail next in the article. How each cell is grown and tested using among other a tissue culture microscope under laboratory conditions. We take notice on the capability of adult cells that they are undifferentiated cell found among differentiated cell. The ability to regenerate or renew itself into specialized cell types of tissue or organ has excited scientist on the prospect of using adult cell in transplant. With both cells the use of tissue culture microscope and various equipments have been used in identifying and studying stem cells. Usually placing the specimen using a tissue culture dish studied under a tissue culture microscope scientist can determine progression of the cell. With the continuing research scientist may have a better understanding in treating cancer, diabetes and other forms of abnormalities and correct them before birth or during treatment of the disease. Human stem cells can also be used to screen new drugs. But the most significant application of stem cell is the generation of cells and tissues. Today the method of replacing a failing heart is through organ donor transplant. With stem cell the ability to produce healthy heart muscle cells in laboratories and transplant those cells into the patient. Cell transplant has already been proven effective in mice using bone marrow stem cell which was transplanted into a damaged heart, produced heart muscle cells which the repopulated into healthy heart cell.There are still many hurdles to overcome in the field of stem cell research but the possibilities and application of stem cell are endless. Read the entire article