Stem Cell Research

Stem Cell Research

Introduction

Research that is conducted on stem cells is called stem cell research. These are the cells that can transform or change into any other type of cell in a body during early life or growth. These stem cells divide into either other cells such as red blood cells, muscle cells and brain cells or remain as stem cells. The stem cells can form more than 200 types of different cells. Adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells are the two types of stem cells. The main purposes of stem cells are for repair purposes, and they have the tendency to become other forms of cells as well.

Stem cells can be distinguished through two different characteristics; first they have renewed capabilities through cell division and second that they can be made into a tissue or organ specific cells under experimental or laboratory conditions (Johnson and Williams, 2006).

Other cells in the body such as muscle cells, tissue cells and blood cells cannot replicate and divide while stem cells can proliferate. Under laboratory conditions, these cells can result into millions of cells. These stem cells are unspecific as they do not have a specific structure to perform a specialized task. The stem cells are responsible for specialized cells as they are involved in repair and renewing of other body cells. The chemicals secreted by other cells give a signal to stem cells which they use and then replicate. There has been difficulty in replicating adult stem cells under laboratory conditions. Scientists are trying to find other ways or alternative sources of stem cells.

These other sources include cells umbilical cord blood and from bone marrow of adults. In the last 30 years, stem cells can be used to cure patients with different blood diseases and conditions. They ...