Why Is Stem Cell Research So Important: The Stem Cell Facts
Stem cells are considered to be the basic building blocks of the body. This is because they can reproduce by dividing themselves into and they can also turn into any other cell type found in the body. This is amazing and one of the reasons why stem cell research is getting so much attention these days. Stem cell facts show that this type of research is becoming one of the most important discoveries of the twenty-first century.
There are still millions of people who don’t understand the potential this type of research has to offer. As it stands today, it’s believed that over seventy major medical conditions and incurable diseases could be treated and some of them even cured by using stem cells. Some of these include cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and even spinal cord injuries. The more research done on stem cells, the more valuable they become. The benefits of stem cell research are becoming more evident as the research continues. Stem cell facts prove that when a stem cell divides into, it can remain a stem cell or turn into one of the other cells in the body such as a brain cell, blood cell or muscle cells. Some of them can even be a part of the immune system and others grow and become part of the bones and tissues found in the body or they turn into cells found in the organs. One thing that has been discovered is that stem cells are not all the same. Pluripotent is the term used for the embryonic stem cells and they can turn into any type of cell found in the body except for the sperm and egg cells. They are blank cells, meaning, they have no specialized function and they can be found in the interior of blastocyst that develops several days after an egg becomes fertilized. These were the first ones to be discovered and they are believed to have the most potential when it comes to treating and curing diseases.
Multipotent is the term used for adult stem cells and it has been discovered that these can turn into different types of cells that are found in the same basic group. For instance, bone marrow adult stem cells can turn into cells that are found in the blood. Adult stem cell research has revealed that these cells are a lot more valuable than previously thought. Other stem cell facts show that a specific type of stem cell research called SCNT or Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is one of the most controversial researches being done today. It’s also referred to as “therapeutic cloning” because it involves producing embryonic stem cells without the use of sperm fertilizing an egg. In other words, the embryonic stem cells are still produced but not due to a pregnancy the way they are produced naturally. A stem cell transplant is simply the process of infusing healthy stem cells into a person’s body. It’s used for a variety of reasons such as, when the body is not producing enough red or white blood cells. This type of transplant will help to reduce the risk of the patient suffering from anemia, excessive bleeding or infections that could be life-threatening.
The stem cells used in these transplants can come from the person’s own body or from a donor. Stem cell statistics show these transplants to be quite successful and it gives hope to all types of patients suffering from a variety of diseases and illnesses. These stem cell facts should help you understand why stem cell research is so important.
