STEM CELL RESEARCH

Stem Cell Research

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Discussion3

Benefits of Stem cells4

Cell Based Therapies4

Burn Patients5

Stem Cells and Drug Testing6

Conclusion6

References7

Stem Cell Research

Introduction

Human embryonic stem cells were for the first time detected in 1998 (Thomson, et al., pp. 1145-1147). Since then these stem cells have always been in high demand for research purposes. Stem cells have got the capability to reproduce limitlessly and transform into almost any types of cells of the human body which can be accomplished as per demand. Such unique manifestations of the stem cells have created enormous interest in its scientific research. It has therefore been the centre of exceptional attention for patients, journalists and healthcare providers. Despite having profound implications for research field in medicine, we need to consider ethical and practical barriers which lie in its application and implementation on mass scale leading to certain unsettled queries like “Stem cells: Hype or Hope” and “Are our hopes for Stem Cell technology justified?”. According to Ron McKay (1997) stem cells studies will help in understanding the development and function of organs in mammals and through this technology diseases like liver failure and Parkinson's disease could be treated in future.

Discussion

All cells are basically generated from other cells but we need to find out the uniqueness of the stem cells which provide them with so much power to reproduce limitlessly and differentiate into almost any cell types of the human body. Several complicated academic definitions have been mentioned in various scholarly journals but the most comprehensive and simple definition describes stem cells as unspecialized and undifferentiated cells that have the power to reproduce themselves and also give rise to one or more specialized cell types with specific functions in the human body. This concept applies to many situations in biology and medicine. As an example, formation of a tumour always starts with a single cell and in several tumours different types of cells are produced by the tumour stem cell. This manifestation has substantial outcome which can be seen in tumours of testis which are termed as teratomas or teratocarcinomas. Stem cells are also defined on the basis of their potential for development. In this context we will have to also examine the objective for working with early human cells. Academic interests to study these cells further can be divided into two segments. In the first place these cells can be used to investigate characteristics that are explicit to early human development. Secondly these embryonic stem cells generate somatic cell types which are non-reproductive cells that form the human body. The expected advantages to human health are enormous ranging from the generation of new neurons for the cure of Parkinson's disease to widening insights of molecular processes that ultimately results in the development of tumours. However there are obvious hurdles on ethical grounds to use sources of human embryonic cells for research purposes.

Benefits of Stem cells

To date Stem cells are considered to have several applications for the treatment of various diseases. Scientists are still conducting research to know more ...